The lawyer for an Israeli man accused in a series of murders and attempted murders of Arabs says his client is being abused in prison.
Sharon Nahari says prison officials have tied his client, Chaim Pearlman, to a chair for up to 16 hours a day while questioning him. He also says officials have threatened, attacked and cursed at Pearlman.
Nahari commented Friday, following his first meeting with Pearlman. The meeting took place after the Supreme Court ruled, Thursday, that Pearlman and alleged accomplice David Sitbon must be permitted to meet with lawyers.
Israeli police arrested Pearlman last week for attacks that date back to the late 1990's. Investigators suspect he murdered four Arabs and attempted to murder another seven.
Investigators say he has ties to an outlawed Israeli extremist group which preaches that Palestinians should be expelled from Israel and the West Bank.
Authorities arrested Sitbon for allegedly supplying weapons to Pearlman.
Nahari says he is "shocked" by the physical and emotional abuse that his client has endured. However, Israel's Shin Bet intelligence agency says Pearlman is being detained in a lawful manner.
