Israel Prison Service chief’s lawyers threaten High Court petition as indictment looms

The legal storm surrounding Israel Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi intensifies as his lawyers issue a stark warning: petition the High Court of Justice if Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara proceeds with an indictment without thoroughly examining their concerns. Yaakobi, a key appointee of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, faces serious allegations of compromising a confidential investigation by allegedly informing a senior police officer, who himself was under scrutiny, about the probe.

At the heart of the matter is the accusation that Yaakobi leaked information about a secret Police Investigation Department (PID) inquiry into the senior officer while the latter was seeking a promotion. While Yaakobi reportedly claims ignorance of the investigation's clandestine nature, the situation is further complicated by claims from his defense that a PID investigator involved in the case had an improper relationship with a central witness. Both the witness and the investigator have denied this allegation.

Yaakobi's legal team argues that their concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest, alleged leaks, and procedural mishandling were raised weeks ago. They expressed dissatisfaction with the Attorney-General's Office's response, which requested evidence of the alleged improper relationship by Tuesday afternoon for examination by a body separate from PID or the Israel Police. The threat of a High Court petition signals a potential escalation, as Yaakobi's defense seeks to ensure all investigative irregularities are addressed before any formal charges are laid.