Palestinian loses testicle, officer won’t be jailed
During 2008 operation to apprehend illegal aliens, police officer kicked Palestinian in groin area; doctors forced to remove crushed testicle. Prosecution considers appealing community service sentence
The Beersheba Magistrates' Court on Sunday sentenced a police officer who crushed the testicle of a Palestinian to six months community service and ordered him to pay the victim NIS 24,000 (about $6,800) in compensation.
Israel Police's Internal Affairs Division, which filed the indictment against the officer, is considering the possibility of appealing the sentence.
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During the April 2008 incident in Gan Yavne, Dani Haveri, and a fellow officer with the Southern District's mounted police unit took part in an operation to apprehend illegal aliens. The two arrived at a structure in which Fadi Darabiya was staying, and Haveri questioned the Palestinian about his employer while cursing him. At some point he kicked Darabiya in the groin area. The Palestinian was taken to the Tarqumia checkpoint, where he was released and then taken to a hospital, where he underwent surgery in which his left testicle was removed.
Judge Adam Or convicted Haveri of aggravated assault, but added: "On the face of it, it seems that the offence warrants jail time, but I believe that the interest of the public can absorb a sentence that will be served in community service."
One of Haveri's attorneys claimed that while the damage caused to Darabiya was severe, he sustained "only one blow."
The representative of the Internal Affairs Division asked that the court sentence Haveri to 16 to 36 months in prison. "The officer shamed the entire police force while using gratuitous violence. The public is looking to the court to take firm action against violent officers," said the prosecutor.
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