Report: Police to indict officer who was caught attacking Arab truck driver on video
The Police Internal Investigation Department is expected to indict police officer Moshe Cohen, who was caught on tape last week violently attacking an Arab truck driver in east Jerusalem, Walla News has reported.
Cohen is scheduled to meet at National Police Headquarters in Jerusalem on Wednesday, where police will examine whether to continue his employment, according to the report.
The officer reportedly admitted to assaulting the man during questioning and apologized for his actions, saying he lost his temper and was “ashamed.”
Footage of the incident emerged on Thursday morning of Cohen violently confronting 50-year-old Mazen Shwiki, with the officer head-butting, punching and kneeing Shwiki in the groin after a heated argument.
Bystanders in the video are seen flocking to the scene as they attempt to turn the policeman’s attention away from the visibly shaken truck driver. More blows are then exchanged, this time between members of the crowd and the officer, who seems to leave the scene, but then is seen returning to kick Shwiki in the back before the recording ends.
The incident took place in the parking lot of the Interior Ministry office in the Wadi Joz neighborhood. It allegedly ensued after the truck driver hit the officer’s car and did not leave information to pay for the damages. Cohen was reported as having looked at security camera footage, when he saw Shwiki hit his private car and returned to the scene to confront him.
Israel Police and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan condemned the incident the same day the video surfaced.
“The behavior of the police officer filmed violently attacking an east Jerusalem resident is of the utmost gravity and is disgraceful,” Erdan said in a statement on Thursday.
“Such behavior harms the entire police force and the police acted correctly to immediately suspend the officer. There is no place for such behavior among police and I hope that the Israel Police will reach a grave judgment against him for his unacceptable behavior.”