Kidnapping Suspect's Detention Extended Amid New Details and Allegations

A court in Petah Tikva extended the detention of a suspect accused of kidnapping 10-year-old Yahli Sofer by five days on Thursday, marking the fourth such extension. The judge allowed the suspect's name to be published, but a stay was issued pending an appeal by the defense. During the hearing, police revealed that Yahli provided new details about his abduction, stating the suspect took him to a shelter from which the boy escaped, prompting a chase. A civilian then spotted Yahli and alerted the police. The suspect, a 19-year-old homeless man from Jerusalem, is also being investigated for alleged assaults on two other children. Parents of two girls and another boy have identified him as their children's assailant, with one incident involving harassment and threats, and another involving a knife and threats. Police cited an earlier incident in Hadera where the suspect allegedly waited outside the home of two girls, causing them fear. The judge noted that while the incidents differ, they indicate the suspect's dangerousness and a pattern of behavior. The primary kidnapping charge remains strong, bolstered by an admission related to another complaint of harassment and threats. The suspect initially denied kidnapping Yahli, claiming he found the boy lost and was helping him get home. He was apprehended in Bnei Brak after a local resident noticed him and Yahli wandering the city late at night, leading to Yahli's safe return after his family endured hours of anxiety.