Ra'am Activist Released in Bribery Probe as Attorney Blames PMO
Attorney Sara Habib criticized the Prime Minister's Office for allegedly compromising a bribery probe involving Ra'am activist Said Abu Saad, who was subsequently released by a judge.
Attorney Sara Habib, representing Ra'am activist Said Abu Saad who was released on Monday amid a bribery investigation, sharply criticized the Prime Minister's Office for interfering in the case. Habib claimed the investigation was compromised from the outset by the outgoing premier's bureau.
Judge Eran Sabri approved the request to release Abu Saad and canceled his restrictive conditions, leaving only one suspect currently held in custody. During the court hearing, Habib pressed police representative Superintendent Avihai Lugasi to explicitly state that the Prime Minister's Office served as the intelligence source that initiated the probe, though the police prosecutor declined to answer.
Abu Saad was among four suspects arrested last Thursday on suspicion of election bribery and related offenses. The case against him hinged on an alleged attempt to initiate a WhatsApp conversation regarding fuel cards seen in a TikTok video, though police conceded he never received a response.
Following the court's decision, two additional suspects were released without restrictions, and four others will complete their house arrest on Thursday unless police request an extension.
