Israeli to be indicted over 'grave' national security crimes

Suspect, whose identity and alleged crimes are under strict gag order, has been under investigation for several weeks; judge slams Shin Bet, says long detention stems from lack of strong case

Ynet, i24NEWS|
The State Prosecutor's Office announced on Thursday that an Israeli citizen suspected of committing "grave" security offenses will be indicted shortly.
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  • The suspect, whose identity is under a gag order, has been under investigation by the Shin Bet security agency for several weeks and is currently being held in custody.
    2 View gallery
    The alleged suspect at his home
    The alleged suspect at his home
    The alleged suspect at his home
    (Photo: Amit Shaal)
    All details concerning the suspect's alleged crimes likewise remain under a gag order.
    The suspect was apparently barred from meeting with a lawyer for 20 days, which appears to be a common practice when it comes to serious security offenses.
    Earlier Thursday, Thursday the Be'er Sheva District Court ruled the suspect's remand will be extended until July 9.
    "Until then, the state will formulate a position on whether to file an indictment with a request for detention until the end of the legal proceedings or for release of the suspect," said the judge during Thursday's hearing.
    2 View gallery
    בית המשפט המחוזי בבאר שבע
    בית המשפט המחוזי בבאר שבע
    The Be'er Sheva District Court
    (Photo: Roee Idan)
    "If the facts allow an indictment, you should file an indictment. The overall picture is very unimpressive. It does not seem to me that there is anything dramatic here, that we have saved the State of Israel," added the judge in an apparent criticism of the prosecution.
    The suspect's lawyers, attorneys Avi Chimi and Moshe Weiss, said their client is "a loyal citizen of the State of Israel and it is not for nothing that the [Ashkelon] court ordered his release."
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