First publication: The section of suspicion against the speeding driver Haim Sirotkin, who ran over five protesters in a protest against the government – one of them is in moderate condition – has been aggravated. Sirotkin is now being investigated on suspicion of aggravated sabotage, a more serious offense than the one the police attributed to him when he was arrested, risking human life on a transportation route. Earlier today (Monday) a hearing on the extension of his detention was held at the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court.
At the hearing held this morning, the court decided that Sirotkin will be released to house arrest until next Thursday, on bail of several tens of thousands of shekels. Judge Avital Amsalem demanded that the police update by noon today if they intend to appeal the decision. In her reasoning, Judge Amsalem stated that Sirotkin’s blood contained a higher than permitted amount of alcohol, 240 mg. As part of the decision, Sirotkin was prohibited from making indirect or direct contact with those involved in the incident.
Sirotkin during the arrest, Saturday Photo: Eric Marmor, Flash 90
During his investigation Sirotkin again claimed that it was an accident and not a deliberate run over. In an exclusive document that we published yesterday from inside the vehicle, we can see the moment when the vehicle started driving, and then hit the protesters. The traffic examiners of the police refuted the claim and an examination revealed that there was no technical failure, but despite this, a video taken from inside the vehicle at the time of the incident shows Sirotkin trying to control his vehicle, then saying to the person next to him: “My car stalled, my gas stalled.”
“Unfortunately, I came to travel, the gas was stuck, and I tried to save as many people as possible, I drove left and right,” said Sirotkin, a former soccer player and now a coach of the MS Tira soccer club in the First League. He burst into tears before the hearing and said: “It was not intentional. I apologize and regret what was there. Nothing was intentional, a human error. I had no intention.” On the other hand, eyewitnesses present at the scene claimed that Silotkin cursed the demonstrators in the minutes before the stampede.
Attorney Roy Keren _OBJ
Attorney Roy Keren, who represents the suspect, attacked the police and the prosecutor’s office: “After they failed in their goal of strengthening the case against Haim and leaving him in custody, and only after a resounding release decision, they ‘remembered’ to suspect him of another offense with intent to cause disability or disfigurement, all in continuation of the campaign of intimidation and building A plot against him, where when it is clear that the element of intent to harm does not exist and it is an unfortunate and unavoidable accident.”
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