Last update - 00:00 29/01/2007
Car thief indicted for stabbing police officer in Rehovot
By Nir Hasson, Haaretz Correspondent
A man suspected of stabbing a police officer in Rehovot earlier this month while resisting arrest was indicted Monday at the Tel Aviv District Court.
Ratab Abu Issa from the Bedouin town of Arara is suspected of stabbing 27-year-old policeman Shlomi Asulin during an attempt to arrest suspected car thieves in a Rehovot car shop.
Ratab is charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, auto theft, violation of a legal order, and driving without a license and insurance.
In addition to the indictment, the prosecution also requested that the suspect be kept in custody for the remainder of the proceedings.
According to the indictment, Abu Issa, who was under house arrest, and Yousef Abu Issa, a prisoner on furlough, stole a Mitsubishi SUV from Rishon Letzion the night before the incident.
The two suspects allegedly arrived at a car shop in the northern industrial area of Rehovot and requested to repair a malfunction in the vehicle.
While the two suspects were talking with the shop owner, three police vehicles arrived at the scene and attempted to arrest the suspects.
According to the indictment, Yousef then tried to escape and was captured by police after a struggle. Ratab jumped out of the stolen vehicle and began fleeing.
Officer Asulin noticed Ratab and lunged at him. Ratab then allegedly stabbed Asulin with a screwdriver on the left side of his neck, causing severe damage to his spine and brain.
Ratab then allegedly smashed Asulin's head into a car parked at the scene.
The policeman lost consciousness and is still in a coma and in critical condition at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.
After wounding Asulin, Ratab managed to flee the scene. He was arrested several hours later at the apartment where he was meant to spend his house arrest.