Suspect in Kidnapping of 10-Year-Old Yali Charged with Phone Theft in March

The suspect apprehended for the kidnapping of 10-year-old Yali Sofer from Petah Tikva earlier this week was only charged in March with phone theft. The police investigation into the kidnapping is ongoing. Investigators have revealed that after meeting the children at a playground in Petah Tikva, the suspect used one of the children's phones to make a call, subsequently deleting the number from the call log. Evidence suggests the child was moved between several cities. The suspect has reportedly confessed to taking Yali to help him solicit donations. New footage has emerged showing the moments of the abduction. The child's mother told i24NEWS that the suspect "manipulated him emotionally, telling people he was his father." Yali, 10, was abducted from a playground in Petah Tikva by a 20-year-old man from Jerusalem. According to the suspect's police testimony, his plan was to use Yali to help him collect money from passersby.