Suspect Identified in Kidnapping of 10-Year-Old Boy

A court has permitted the publication of the identity of the suspect in the kidnapping of 10-year-old Yahli Sofer, who was taken from Petah Tikva to Bnei Brak. The suspect is Yigal Buskila, a 19-year-old homeless man from Jerusalem, whose arrest has been extended multiple times. The court ruled that the public interest in the case, particularly the police's concern about potential additional victims, outweighs the suspect's personal interest.

New details have emerged from the investigation, with Yahli telling investigators that at one point, Buskila took him to a shelter, from which the boy escaped while the suspect pursued him. A citizen who spotted the child alerted the police. Buskila has claimed to associates that he asked Yahli to join him in begging for money and that the child came willingly, denying he kidnapped him.

Buskila's defense has argued he has an intellectual disability. In addition to Yahli's case, parents of two girls and another boy have come forward, identifying Buskila as someone who allegedly harassed and threatened them, and in one instance, held a knife to them. Police also cited an incident from months prior in Hadera involving two girls, where Buskila allegedly waited for them outside their home.

Investigators believe Buskila employed sophisticated methods to conceal his tracks, including asking a child for a phone to make a call and then deleting the number from the call log. Yahli's mother stated that Buskila used her son to solicit money from people, posing as his father and employing manipulative stories.

Buskila's arrest has been extended repeatedly, and the case is expected to be transferred to the prosecution for indictment consideration. The court noted that the suspicion of kidnapping remains high, with the evidence against Buskila strengthening throughout the investigation.