Man Charged with Murdering Woman Over Debt, Hiding Body in Barrel

Prosecutors in Jerusalem have indicted Salah Othman, 48, from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of A-Tur, for the aggravated murder of Fatima Rajabi approximately three weeks ago. Rajabi was initially reported missing for a week before her body was discovered. The prosecution is requesting that Othman be held in custody until the legal proceedings against him are concluded.

The indictment details that Othman planned the murder due to a financial debt he owed the victim. He allegedly purchased a barrel in advance to conceal her body. According to the charges, Othman was a frequent gambler who accumulated significant debts over the years. Rajabi, whom he knew through his work as a technician, had lent him a total of about 90,000 shekels, which he claimed was for starting a business repairing washing machines. In reality, he used the money for gambling.

When Rajabi began demanding repayment of the outstanding debt, Othman decided to kill her. He acquired a metal barrel and hid it in a shed in his backyard. He then met Rajabi, telling her he would repay her at his home in A-Tur. As they neared his house and she continued to demand her money, Othman took a hammer from his car's trunk and struck her 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 victim's body in his car. He later placed the body in the pre-purchased barrel and poured sealant over it to prevent its discovery. He also stole Rajabi's debit card and withdrew 15,000 shekels from her account. Othman attempted to conceal evidence by hiding the hammer and discarding mobile phones. He evaded capture for several days until a relative turned him in to the police. The indictment includes charges of aggravated murder, destruction of evidence, debit card theft, aggravated debit card fraud, and theft.