Israel prisons chief arrested for obstructing probe into Ben-Gvir

Israel Prison Service Chief Commissioner, Kobi Yaakobi, was detained yesterday for questioning over allegations of obstructing an investigation and breach of trust, reported the Times of Israel.

His arrest follows the detention of a senior Israeli prison official and two police officers after an investigation by the Department of Internal Police Investigations. Details of the case remain under a gag order, including the identities of the two police officers involved.

Yaakobi was held for over 12 hours before he was released under strict conditions, including a prohibition on contacting other suspects in the case.

The far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, defended Yaakobi after his detention, praising him as a “dedicated fighter for the State of Israel,” claiming that under his leadership, “governance and order have been achieved in the prison service.”

Ben-Gvir, who promoted Yaakobi to prison service chief earlier this year further claimed the arrests were part of a political campaign led by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to undermine his authority.

READ: Ben-Gvir accuses Israel’s legal adviser of fabricating case against him

“The attorney general and the State Prosecutor’s Office are using the Department of Internal Police Investigations to deter a very senior officer in the Prison Service and police officers from carrying out my policy and that of the right-wing government,” Ben-Gvir wrote on X after news of the DIPI interrogation first broke.

According to the Times of Israel, Yaakobi asked a female police officer to persuade another person to delete Telegram messages considered damaging to Ben-Gvir. Moreover, the officer suggested to the person that their career progression would depend on compliance with the request.

In a statement to Channel 12, Yaakobi said the conditions of his release prevent him from discussing the investigation. “I immediately asked to hold a press conference, but I am barred from doing so,” he said.“I can only say that I have nothing to hide and nothing to hide from.”

“I promise that as soon as I can, I will answer everything,” he added.