"Grossman promised the father of the arrested to close the account with him."

Last Thursday, at about 1:00 at night, the editor of Hapeles newspaper, Nati Grossman was attacked near his home in Bayit Vegan in Jerusalem; Grossman was light scratched on his face, and was released the next day to his house.

The police rushed to arrest a number of suspects: At first a Ponovicz Yeshiva student was arrested and another man, and later - on Sunday – another Yeshiva student was summoned for questioning - and arrested. The arrest of the third suspect was extended the next day (Monday) by two days, and today (Wednesday) has been extended again.

A group of friends of the detainee, held a prayer rally this evening for his quick release at the home of Hgrm"y Lefkovitz zt"l, who the detainee served with great devotion for many years.

But when speaking with friends and lawyers of the accused, a grim picture emerges of - allegedly - holding a person in jail without justification, and even hostage - until the surrender of another suspect.

A friend of the defendant, who gave police an alibi statement, told B'Chadrei Charedim: "Chaim is a very neat boy, he heard all kinds of publications concerning his name and the name of another boy who are going to be arrested, and then the other boy was arrested, he realized that probably the one who publicized the names received a leak from the police, and prepared accordingly.

"In addition, why did they not call us to give an alibi? Police received on the first day of the arrest the list of names and details of who could provide a perfect alibi, but they did not care to hold a person in custody in vain. Why not check the cameras at the Western Wall? (where the accused was. A.C) Why did we need - when we ourselves came to give an alibi on Monday – to insist and argue that they let us in? Until the lawyer pressured that did not happen."

"They promised father they would close the account with him"

The suspect's lawyers Yehuda Fried, Tal Gabay and Rivka Schwartz - support the claims, in a conversation with B'Chadrei Charedim says Mr. Fried: "You know that in custody we lawyers are not privy to the evidence, and it is likely that when I see them I will know more, but my feeling is that at first they thought he was really involved in the attack, but after the alibi evidence was given - they realized he was not involved in the attack, but maybe someone else who looks like him, and then invented the idea that he was involved in the planning of the attack."

• Did the police provide any proof to this claim, that he was involved in the planning?

"I have no evidence which articulates this argument that he is related in some way to this."

• So how do you explain the directed harassment?

"I think the motivation is clear, I pointed out in court that his father was indirectly involved in firing Grossman from Yated Ne'eman, who told him that he will hold an account. I pointed out that this must be taken into account and ask if they did not find an opportunity to take revenge and close the account. It also does not make sense that the investigation is conducted over the internet and the media, and anyone arrested it is known in advance. How can the police claim disruption of investigation - when someone, apparently the police issued information to journalists and bloggers? There is no explanation of how it has been published in some places in advance that he was going to be arrested if there were no leaks from inside."

"The second reason for the police to arrest him was that he is dangerous. First of all, even if he was charged with assault, it was a slight scratch on the forehead, not any stabbings or serious injuries that make a person dangerous. Secondly, at this point even the police admit that he was not present, but claims that he might be involved in the planning of the attack. One should also remember the boy has no previous criminal convictions, so from where was this pretext invented of him being dangerous-it seems they have ..."

• So what is going on here?

"My only conclusion: I heard that every night a police car arrives at the Ponovicz Yeshiva and seeks another boy, who looks similar to him, the police suggest that if he will be arrested - the other will be released. This means, they are holding him hostage, and this is not normal and not acceptable."

"The police told the court they were looking for pinpointing data of a cell phone and such, but it's certainly not grounds for arrest, if the police have a problem getting this data – is that a reason to hold a person in jail?".

• What are you going to do?

"I think the police should either file charges or release him, you cannot just go to court and ask for two more days in jail. For what? For two actions they have not carried out yet? Why does it take so long?

"Tomorrow morning we are going to appeal in the District Court, and we hope that there they come to their senses and realize that this is a serious injustice and release the detainee."

Jerusalem police responded that, the lawyer's claims are false, the investigation data was presented in court and that’s the only place the police must respond to.

Grossman's reaction to the attorney's words was not received. It will be published when received.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!