Two young Haredi women, who were arrested about two weeks ago, immediately after landing in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, on suspicion of attempting to smuggle a huge amount of gat, found themselves at the center of a legal and bureaucratic tangle far from home.
While in Israel it is a legal substance when used raw, the goitre plant is considered a prohibited drug in many European countries - and is classified as a dangerous drug.
According to a report by Shimon Ifergan on the 'Mako' website, despite the time that has passed since the arrest, the two have not yet been brought before a judge, due to the timing of the arrest.
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""A source familiar with the details explains: "Because of Christmas and New Year's celebrations, the local police forensics lab personnel were on vacation. The tests on the seized material have not yet been completed, which is what is keeping them in custody for such a long time.".
According to the report in 'Mako', the young women currently face two main options: filing an indictment and opening a trial that could end in a prison sentence, or alternatively - deportation from the country under a "black stamp," which would prohibit them from entering the Czech Republic and European Union countries for an extended period.
The defense attorney for one of the young women, attorney Mordechai Tzivin, who specializes in representing Israelis detained abroad, expresses deep concern about the situation of the two. According to him, they are "held in very difficult conditions in the local prison, which exacerbates their mental distress.".
He said, "The matter is being intensively handled by the authorities. Due to the New Year's holiday, legal treatment was delayed, but we are making great efforts to bring about their release to house arrest or their immediate deportation from the country without prosecution. The goal is to prevent a situation in which they will remain in detention for a long period of time under these difficult conditions.".
In intensive care. Attorney Mordechai Tzibin. Photo: Courtesy
With the return to routine after the holidays, the defense team hopes that the test results will allow for a breakthrough that will end the affair.
