Kidnapping Probe Expands as Police Investigate More Child Victim Allegations
An investigation into the alleged kidnapping of 10-year-old Yahli has broadened, with police now examining suspicions of harm to additional minors across Israel, in both the north and south. The suspect, arrested on August 30, appeared in Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court for the third time on Monday, as authorities sought a further extension of his detention. Investigators have been attempting to obtain testimony from Yahli since the arrest. The case file has not yet been transferred to the State Prosecutor's Office, and police are continuing their investigative actions.
Additional suspicions being examined have not yet solidified into definitive conclusions, and the investigation continues. Security camera footage was a key point of discussion in court. The suspect's attorney, Adv. Frida Wall, requested to present a video showing Yahli with the suspect in a crowded public place, eating pizza. She argued the footage did not indicate the child was being held against his will and criticized the length of the investigation, stating, "We have been waiting 10 days for the child's testimony, which we don't need because everything is filmed." She added, "I understand the state's need to fish, but detainees have rights."
The court extended the suspect's detention by an additional three days, until September 10, rejecting the release request at this stage. Judge Gil Gabai determined there was reasonable suspicion of the alleged offenses but emphasized this was a preliminary finding. "This is only a preliminary finding, and the question of which offenses the suspect committed will be examined in depth as the investigation progresses and if an indictment is filed," the judge stated. He also ordered prison authorities to ensure the suspect's safety.
The case began when Yahli left to play with friends near his home in the Kfar Ganim G neighborhood of Petah Tikva and did not return. He was found early the next morning in Bnei Brak, alongside the 20-year-old suspect, a resident of Jerusalem. Yahli recounted that the young man asked him for money and later for help asking others for money, stating, "We went far from home and I didn't know where and I was really scared." His mother, Shiran Shabtai, explained that the search began after Yahli's friends described the encounter, and a search on one of the children's phones for directions to Bnei Brak helped investigators track him.
In a previous hearing on September 3, police requested to publish the suspect's name, arguing it could help identify further cases and encourage potential witnesses. The court granted the request but delayed its implementation at the defense's behest. The suspect's mental state was also discussed, and the court ordered a review by the district psychiatrist. The judge at that time maintained the high level of suspicion and deemed the nature of the allegations to constitute a danger.
