East Jerusalem Man Arrested for Murder of Woman, Body Found in Sealed Barrel

Jerusalem District Police have concluded their investigation into the murder of Fatma Rajabi, a 61-year-old resident of East Jerusalem, who was initially reported missing two and a half weeks ago. The investigation began on September 13th when Rajabi was reported missing. Police suspicions grew that her disappearance was not voluntary but a homicide.

Rajabi's body was discovered several days after the missing person report. Investigators believe the suspect, identified as 61-year-old Salah Othman, also from East Jerusalem, picked Rajabi up in his vehicle, allegedly attacked her with a heavy hammer, causing her death. To conceal the crime, Othman allegedly placed her body inside a barrel filled with sealant material in a warehouse near his home in the A-Tur neighborhood.

Evidence suggests Othman then attempted to clean his vehicle and abandoned it in central Israel. Investigators tracked down Othman after his car was located. During questioning, Othman confessed and led police to the barrel containing Rajabi's body and to the location in central Israel where the murder weapon, a hammer, was found.

Investigators determined that Othman and Rajabi knew each other and that the motive for the murder was a debt of tens of thousands of shekels. Security camera footage near the crime scene reportedly showed Othman withdrawing money using Rajabi's credit card shortly after her death.

With the investigation complete, the case file has been transferred to the Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office. A statement of charges was filed in court on Thursday, and Othman's remand was extended until early next week. An indictment is expected to be filed in the coming days, with a request to extend his detention until the legal proceedings conclude.