Last update - 00:00 07/12/2006
Report will not blame specific officers for Sela jail escape
By Jonathan Lis and Roni Singer-Heruti, Haaretz Correspondents
The Yaron Committee investigating the incident in which serial rapist Benny Sela escaped from police custody two weeks ago will present its report to Public Security Minister Avi Dichter Thursday. At this stage, individual officers will not be singled out for their responsibility in the affair.
The report of the committee headed by Major General (res.) Amos Yaron will include recommendations for changes to the entire system of transporting prisoners. It is also expected to describe in detail the responsibility of police officers and commanders for a variety of failings in the Sela escape.
The committee is expected to criticize the police escort force, and call for the immediate transfer of responsibility for moving prisoners to the Prisons Authority.
As a result of a legal opinion received earlier this week, it was decided that, at this stage, the report would not assign responsibility to individuals for Sela's escape to allow those involved to respond to criticism. Because this is considered a time-consuming process, and the Public Security Ministry wanted the committee's findings to be made available as quickly as possible, it was decided that the individuals responsible would be handled by Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi.
Among the issues the Yaron Committee is in charge of investigating are suspicions that Sela was assisted in his escape by elements inside the Prisons Authority or the police. Other theories deal with possible assistance he may have received from criminal elements.
However, the committee concluded that Sela acted on his own.
The committee is expected to present severe conclusions regarding the conduct of the escort unit of the Tel Aviv District Police, as well as officers of different ranks whose conduct was not up to standards.
For example, the two escorting officers violated nearly every procedure, both in the security measures adopted in escorting Sela and in failing to chase him during the early stages of his escape.
While Karadi has claimed that if the two escorting officers had conducted themselves according to procedures, Sela would not have escaped, the committee is expected to assign responsibility to broader, systemic flaws.
Meanwhile, the Tel Aviv District Police commander, Major General David Tzur, said Sela's escape was a failure due to specific circumstances, and he did not consider himself directly responsible for the failure.
Sources at the Tel Aviv District Police also expressed dismay at what they described as "rumors" that Tzur had received early warnings of Sela's plans to escape.