A male Muslim nurse working at Emek Medical Center in Afula was arrested in late August on suspicion of sexually assaulting a patient in his ward, but was released from custody after both the magistrate’s court and later the district court rejected police requests to keep him behind bars.
2+According to the allegations, while the patient was in the ward, the nurse sedated the patient and proceeded to touch her. The patient noticed what was happening, called the police, and gave testimony while still drugged.
The suspect was first brought before the Tiberias Magistrate’s Court, where the police requested an extension of his detention to continue investigative operations. Judge Rivka Lachman rejected the request, ruling that the investigation could proceed with the suspect released.
Police appealed the decision to the district court, but that appeal was also rejected. Judge Atef Ayalboni ruled there was no basis to keep the suspect in custody, and he was released without house arrest.
2+Senior police officials claim that during the hearings, they presented an evidentiary foundation that, in their view, justified continued detention at least until key investigative operations were completed. Despite this, both courts ruled that the investigation could continue with the suspect released.
Emek Medical Center said in a statement: “Emek Medical Center views with utmost severity any allegation of harm or inappropriate behavior toward patients by staff members. The hospital is working in full cooperation with police. Since this is an active police investigation, we are prevented from providing additional details.”
2+The suspect’s attorney responded: “The very fact that the magistrate’s court rejected the police request and subsequently the district court also rejected the appeal—speaks volumes.”
The investigation into the suspect continues. At this stage, these are only suspicions, and he has not been convicted of what is attributed to him.