Suspect Eyal Negar's Detention Extended for Tenth Time Ahead of Indictment

Police have filed a prosecutor's statement against Eyal Negar, indicating an impending indictment, following his tenth detention extension this week. The extended detention, agreed to by Negar's lawyers Tamar Sangas and Salah Amsha, is intended to allow the investigative unit, Lahish District, to conduct further financial investigations. Negar is suspected of extortion by threats and collecting protection money. According to the court's decision, the investigation materials, including a secret report and an approval for a fourth detention extension from the Deputy State Attorney, provide reasonable grounds to believe Negar committed the alleged offenses.

The court stated that Negar, along with others, allegedly operated a delivery business in Ashdod that stifled competition from other delivery companies in the city as part of a turf war. The police investigation, dubbed 'Delivery Race,' involved establishing a fictitious delivery company to lure members of a crime organization. Negar was identified as a silent partner in the 'Mr. Delivery' company, from which investigators believed he profited. During previous detention hearings, the court also raised suspicions of money laundering and conspiracy to commit a crime against him.

Negar was arrested with dozens of other suspects in connection with alleged extortion and protection rackets, reportedly involving the division of delivery zones in Ashdod and Kiryat Gat between two crime organizations. Negar's wife, Ofir, was also arrested and held for several weeks before being released to house arrest, partly due to the couple having young children. With the filing of the prosecutor's statement, police are expected to request Negar's detention until the legal proceedings against him are concluded.