Shas MK Moshe Abutbul is demanding an explanation from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir after a yeshiva bochur was arrested by Military Police immediately after appearing at Lahav 433 headquarters to give testimony in a fraud investigation. Abutbul warned that the incident could severely damage trust between the chareidi public and law enforcement and even discourage victims from reporting crimes.

In a sharply worded letter sent Tuesday, Abutbul accused police of crossing “a red line” and violating commitments previously made by Police Commissioner Danny Levy to the chareidi community. He cautioned that the incident could deter chareidim from cooperating with police investigations in the future.

Moshe Steiner, a Bnei Brak resident who studies at a yeshiva in Beit Meir, was summoned to Lahav 433 to provide testimony after he himself was allegedly victimized in a fraud case. After investigators completed their questioning, Steiner was informed that he was free to leave. However, as he exited the station and entered the parking lot, Military Police officers who had been waiting outside arrested him on allegations that he was a draft evader.

Following the arrest, Abutbul sent an urgent letter to Ben Gvir under the heading, “Crossing a Red Line and Violating the Police Commissioner’s Commitment.” He wrote that Steiner had come to the police voluntarily and in good faith to assist investigators by providing testimony as the victim of an alleged fraud scheme.

“It is a crossing of a red line and a serious violation of the police commissioner’s commitment to the chareidi public,” Abutbul wrote, warning that the incident would erode confidence between police and the chareidi community. “This is not how you build trust; this is how you destroy it.”

Abutbul suggested the incident may have resulted from confusion among officers on the ground despite directives previously issued by the police commissioner. He called on Ben Gvir to issue an immediate and unequivocal instruction to every police station “to allow chareidi yeshiva bochurim to file complaints at police stations without being arrested.”

In closing, Abutbul warned that the consequences could extend far beyond this individual case. “If this conduct continues, chareidi citizens will completely refrain from turning to the police and reporting crime, something that could, G-d forbid, cost lives.”

Copies of the letter were also sent to Police Commissioner Danny Levy and Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin.