Last update - 00:00 11/10/2006
IDF judge seeks probe into Arab cameraman's injury during arrest
By Meron Rapoport, Haaretz Correspondent
A judge in a military court asked Tuesday that an investigation be opened into the injuries suffered by a Palestinian cameraman arrested by Israel Defense Force troops during a demonstration in Bil'in over the weekend.
Eyewitnesses said that the cameraman was beaten by border policemen, while the IDF troops who arrested the man claimed that he was injured when a radio in the jeep that took him to custody fell on him.
Imad Bughnat, a resident of Bil'in, routinely films the weekly demonstrations against the separation fence, which began about 18 months ago. He is employed by Reuters and other agencies, and segments of his films were used by filmmaker Shai Polack in a documentary on Bil'in.
Last Friday, Bughnat was arrested during a demonstration and accused of attacking border policemen and throwing stones at them. Several border policemen testified in court that Bughnat held his camera in one hand and threw stones with the other.
Bughnat's attorney denied the charges, saying that her client was merely filming the demonstration, and his footage proves that he is innocent.
Following Tuesday's hearing, the judge, Major Shlomo Katz, ordered Bughnat freed. However, his release was delayed to give the prosecution time to either appeal the decision later Wednesday or indict the Palestinian cameraman.
The judge expressed disbelief at the army's claim that Bughnat was injured by a falling radio, and added: "I think it would be appropriate for the investigative authorities to dig deeper into this matter."
Bughnat's attorney said that she has evidence proving that her client was beaten by the border policemen.