Benjamin Yehuda Gutfreund, 19, from Jerusalem, will serve only 9 months of community service after being convicted of assaulting two Arab bus drivers and an Arab cleaning worker - who broke his teeth and ribs.
According to a report by Vered Pelman this morning (Thursday) on Channel 2, the plea agreement was presented to the court today, about six months after the difficult incident in the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem, when the young man and another defendant, a 17-year-old boy, were filmed brutally attacking the cleaning worker who was thrown to the sidewalk.
According to the indictment, the defendants threatened the bus drivers, cursed at one of them, and threw trash at the other.
The police arrested the suspects within 24 hours and indictments were filed against them, but despite the fact that all of the attackers were Arab residents, the indictment did not include a racial motive.
Now, Gottfreund has been convicted under an amended indictment in which he admitted, and his part in causing the serious injuries to the cleaning worker was reduced. The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court ruled that the young man will be sent to the supervisor of public works to examine his suitability to carry out the sentence.
Another hearing will be held in September.
The police stated: "This is a serious incident and the arrangement that was formulated includes real and deterrent punishment components, including nine months in prison, to be served with community service, probation, and compensation for the victims of the offense.".
""The arrangement was formulated in accordance with the defendant's part in the incident compared to another defendant, his lack of a criminal record and his young age, and it balances the severity of the acts and the concrete circumstances.".
