Remedia affair, sentencing • "We are not imbued with vengeance, but justice must be done"

After nine years: Magistrates Court in Petach Tikva will decide tomorrow in the trial of the leaders of Remedia, in the case which gripped the nation.

Three children died and 23 were left disabled because of a faulty formula produced by the company. Michal Zisser, a resident of Bnei Brak, who lost her baby son Avishai z"l when he was two months old, says in a special conversation with B'Chadrei Charedim: "We are not imbued with vengeance, but justice must be done."

The case which gripped the country at the time, started in 2003, and led to criminal and civil proceedings against the company and its directors, after it became clear that the company marketed formula and in retrospect it became clear that it caused irreversible nerve disease to the infants, paralysis and cardiac dysfunction. Following consumption of the product, three children died. Dozens of other children suffer the consequences of negligence till today.

In 2008, an indictment was filed against Remedia officials - and tomorrow will be the final decision in the matter.

Last Thursday Michal Zisser went up to her son's grave to tell him verdict in the trial of the people who sent him to his death was approaching. "I was full of faith and that's what helped us go on," she says. "I see no other way I could go through 9 years, if not for the fact that we believed that what happened had to happen." However, she emphasizes the fact that this belief does not diminish the charge of Remedia officials.

Zisser embraced since then a new child, Achia Avraham, who was born a year and a half after the death of Avishai z"l. "After the loss, during the shiva, I felt that if I want to go on living I have to have another child," she recalls. "As believing parents we gave him a name which also speaks of "the brother", "the brother who is with Hashem", and changing the pronunciation of Achia."

At the Kiryat Shaul cemetery, on the headstone of the late Avishai who died on 11th Cheshvan, the day of the death of the Rachel Imeinu, it is written: "Our beloved son, grandson and brother Avishai son of Aharon Yosef Zisser, is not here for G-d took him. Born as a tzaddik on Shabbos Kodesh. Died two months later on the death of Rachel Imeinu, Rachel is weeping for her children."

Michal says: "On the tiny tombstone many stones accumulate at every visit, indicating that people who Avishai was dear to their hearts come."

About the verdict, Zisser said: "I expect they will be found guilty." She added: "The sentence is less disturbing. I want justice to be done because otherwise seemingly nothing happened. Children died, others lost their health forever, families suffer, and we cannot just move on."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!