Jerusalem Man's Arrest Extended in Kidnapping of 10-Year-Old Boy

A Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court has extended the detention of a 20-year-old Jerusalem resident by four days. He is suspected of kidnapping 10-year-old Yahli Sofer from Petah Tikva. Police stated in court that they have information regarding other alleged attacks on children, both boys and girls, in various parts of the country, which may also have been carried out by the suspect. The suspect's attorney argued that her client is disabled and has an intellectual disability.

The 10-year-old boy disappeared on the evening of Sunday, August 30th, prompting a large-scale police search utilizing technological resources. Police located the boy and the suspect in Bnei Brak overnight and brought them to the Petah Tikva police station. The boy reported that the suspect had demanded money from playing children. When Yahli's friends fled, he remained because he felt sorry for the young man, who claimed to have been kicked out of his home and to be penniless. The suspect then allegedly used the boy to collect alms. After a passerby gave them 100 shekels, the suspect put Yahli on a bus and took him to Bnei Brak. The boy stated the suspect bought him pizza and attempted to persuade him to smoke. Police also reported that the suspect used a child's phone from a playground and subsequently deleted the call log.