The senior official under investigation: Commissioner of Prisons • Ben Gvir: We love you, Kobi, the people are with you

December 2, 2024   

Prison Service Commissioner Rav Gonder Kobi Yaakovi is the senior officer who was arrested this morning (Monday) and questioned by the Police Investigation Department, on suspicion of obstructing investigation proceedings and breach of trust. Wheelchair-accessible intercity buses: How will it work? According to a report by Liran Tamari, the police correspondent for Yedioth Ahronoth, the suspicion against the IPS commissioner is an attempt to influence the promotion of the arrested police officer with the rank of NTCSM, in the police appointment round. Yacoubi was questioned for 12 hours - and tonight he was released. Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, issued a statement in which he wrote: "The IPS commissioner is a fighter dedicated to the State of Israel who has won medals of excellence and exemplary service for his work. As commissioner of the Prison Service, he caused a real revolution, and turned the organization 180 degrees. Since he took office, governance and order have been achieved in the prison service." Ben Gvir reiterated his position that the advisor is behind the decision to open an investigation: "I am aware that the legal advisor to the government did not like the changes and policies he implemented, but in a democratic country there is no place for 'stitching up files' for someone whose opinions and policies he implements do not please her. "I give him full backing, and he will continue to lead the prison service with a strong hand.".

Love you Kobe
The people are with you against the government coup of the Ombudsman 🇮🇱❤️ pic.twitter.com/90UEGu2Pxu

— Itamar Ben Gvir (@itamarbengvir) December 2, 2024

In a conversation with the Prison Service command staff, Yaakovi said after the interrogation: "The organization continues with its missions and leadership according to the policy - incarceration, security and enforcement of security prisoners and heads of criminal organizations, as part of its mission to maintain public peace and security, inside and outside the walls. The routine functioning and activity of all the staff at the Prison Service throughout the command continues as usual." Yaakovi and two police officers were interrogated today at the Prison Service in two different cases. A statement issued by the department stated that the prison commissioner is being interrogated on suspicion of "obstructing investigation processes and breach of trust," and that the police officers, including a senior officer with the rank of deputy commissioner and an officer with the rank of superintendent, are being interrogated on suspicion of "committing offenses in the field of morality." Kan News reported this evening that the suspicions in the new cases at the Prison Service and the police do not currently extend to Minister Ben Gvir. Despite Ben Gvir's claims that they are trying to fabricate a case against him, and despite the fact that the suspects are his associates, no basis has been found at this stage to investigate the minister under caution. It was also announced this evening that the information came to the Intelligence Directorate from within the police, and that Ben Gvir's statements were contrary to the instructions of the Legal Advisor to the Government regarding the minister's involvement and statements about investigations that are still ongoing.