An Israel Prison Service officer was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of helping obstruct the investigation into the murder of 19-year-old Benayahu Razi in Jerusalem earlier this month, police and the IPS announced.
The 34-year-old officer from Hod Hasharon is suspected of maintaining a personal relationship with an inmate held at the central Israel prison where she serves.
The inmate is a relative of 17-year-old Avior Sasson, the central suspect in the murder investigation, who remains at large more than two weeks after Razi was killed.
Police suspect that the two worked together to obstruct the investigation and assist Sasson while authorities searched for him. Reports identified the inmate as Sasson’s brother.
Per reports, investigators suspect that the inmate used the officer’s cellphone to help Sasson hide and evade police. The extent of the alleged assistance, and whether the phone was used to pass instructions, information, or other help to Sasson, remains under investigation.
The covert investigation was opened after IPS intelligence officials received information raising suspicions about the officer’s conduct and passed it to police, according to the joint announcement.
The officer was arrested on suspicion of obstruction of justice and breach of trust. She was taken for questioning, after which investigators will decide whether to bring her before a court to request an extension of her detention.
“The manhunt for the murder suspect continues around the clock, and investigators are working day and night to obtain every scrap of information that could reveal his location and lead to his arrest,” said Supt. Rotem Hila Zaken.
Several suspects arrested for arranging Razi murder
Razi was stabbed to death on July 11 in a short-term rental apartment in Jerusalem’s Nachlaot neighborhood. A friend who was with him was lightly wounded and escaped from the apartment. Several suspects have since been arrested over alleged roles in arranging the meeting, carrying out the attack and helping those involved flee.
Police took the unusual step last week of publicly releasing Sasson’s name and photograph despite his being a minor, asking for the public’s help in locating him.
Sasson, a Jerusalem resident, was reportedly seen fleeing the murder scene wearing a white shirt and black trousers. Police warned that anyone assisting him could be investigated for aiding an offender after the fact, an offense carrying a potential prison sentence of up to three years.
