Dichter on rapist's escape: We're all responsible
Internal security minister defines Benny Sela's flight from jail as 'severe and disgraceful failure'; says police were instructed to act as if serial rapist had already assaulted someone
Some police officials said they fear that Sela has already left the Tel Aviv area. Consequently, police Chief Moshe Karadi decided to expand the searches and set up a nationwide search headquarters.
"The entire Israeli police is engaged in this matter, we are working both on the operational level and the intelligence level," Dichter explained. "The police invest efforts in searches outside Tel Aviv as well, but unfortunately we haven't been able to find a substantial lead so far. The instruction is to operate as if Benny Sela had already assaulted someone," he added.
'No lack of confidence in police'
Dichter noted that since Sela's escape the police have also been handling the issue of his victims and the judges that were involved in his trial, and keeping in touch with them.When asked which officials will be held accountable for the incident, Minister Dichter replied: "Theoretically - from the minister level and down – everyone is relevant for the issue. This is a serious and shameful matter, but first of all the commission will present its findings and has been given a very short timetable for doing so."
Major-General (res.) Amos Yaron will head the inquiry commission appointed to investigate the incident, along with other generals.
Dichter stressed that his decision to appoint former army men to investigate the police and the prison service does not represent a show of no-confidence in the latter bodies. He explained that since both the police and the prison service were involved in the failure, he felt that an internal body should be assigned with the probe.
