Man Arrested for Brutal Murder of Jerusalem Woman, Hid Body in Barrel

Israeli police have concluded their investigation into the murder of Fatima Al-Rajabi, a 61-year-old woman from East Jerusalem, who was initially reported missing about two and a half weeks ago. The investigation began on September 13 when a missing person report was filed for Al-Rajabi. Police soon suspected foul play, and her body was discovered several days later.

The primary suspect, identified as 61-year-old Saleh Othman, also from East Jerusalem, allegedly picked Al-Rajabi up in his car and struck her with a heavy hammer, causing her death. To conceal the crime, Othman is accused of placing her body in a barrel filled with an insulating material and hiding it in a warehouse near his home in the Al-Tur neighborhood. He then reportedly attempted to clean his car and abandoned it in central Israel.

Investigators tracked down Othman after locating his car. During questioning, Othman reenacted the crime and led police to the barrel containing Al-Rajabi's body and to a location in central Israel where the murder weapon was found. The investigation revealed that Othman and Al-Rajabi knew each other and that the motive for the murder was a financial debt of tens of thousands of shekels.

Surveillance footage showed Othman using Al-Rajabi's credit card to withdraw cash shortly after the murder. The case file has been transferred to the Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office, which has filed an indictment against Othman. His detention has been extended until next week, with charges expected to be formally filed soon, along with a request for his continued detention until the legal proceedings conclude.