Man Charged with Murdering Lender After Demanding Debt Repayment

The State Prosecutor's Office has filed an indictment against Salah Othman, 48, a resident of a-Tur in Jerusalem, for the aggravated murder of Fatima Rajabi approximately three weeks ago. The indictment alleges that Othman planned and carried out the murder due to a debt he owed the victim. He allegedly purchased a barrel in advance to conceal her body, then met with her and fatally struck her with a hammer. The prosecution is seeking his detention until the legal proceedings conclude.

According to the indictment, Othman was a frequent gambler who accumulated significant debts. Rajabi, whom he knew through his work as a technician, had lent him a total of about 90,000 shekels over the years, believing the money was for a business venture. Instead, Othman used the funds for gambling. When Rajabi began demanding repayment, Othman decided to murder her.

He reportedly bought a metal barrel and hid it in his backyard shed to conceal the body. A few days before the murder, he met Rajabi, telling her he would repay her from his home. Near his residence, as she continued to demand her money, he retrieved a hammer from his car and struck her in the head. After noticing she was still moving, he hit her again, causing her death.

Following the murder, Othman drove around Jerusalem and Tel Aviv with the body in his car. He then placed the body in the barrel, poured sealant over it, and disposed of it. He also stole her credit card and withdrew 15,000 shekels from her account. Othman hid the hammer and discarded mobile phones to obstruct the investigation. He evaded capture for several days until a relative turned him in to the police. The investigation was conducted by the Jerusalem District's Shalem station. Othman is charged with aggravated murder, evidence destruction, credit card theft, aggravated credit card fraud, and theft.