Jerusalem Man Charged With Brutal Murder, Transporting Victim's Body

A 48-year-old resident of East Jerusalem's At-Tur neighborhood has been indicted for aggravated murder. According to the indictment unsealed on Monday, October 5, Salah Otman allegedly planned and carried out the murder of 61-year-old Fatma Rajbi approximately three weeks prior, in September 2026. The motive for the crime was Otman's significant debt to Rajbi, which he incurred through gambling.

Rajbi had lent Otman around 90,000 shekels over several years, believing he needed the money to start a washing machine business. However, prosecutors stated he was actually spending the funds on gambling. When Rajbi began demanding repayment, Otman decided to kill her.

Investigators believe Otman purchased a barrel to hide the body days before the murder and concealed it in a shed. On the day of the killing, he met Rajbi, promising to repay her. During the encounter near his home, after she continued to demand her money, Otman struck her repeatedly with a hammer, killing her. He then drove around Jerusalem and Tel Aviv with her body in his car before placing it in the barrel and sealing it with sealant.

Otman also stole Rajbi's payment card and withdrew 15,000 shekels from her account. He disposed of the murder weapon and his phones to hinder the investigation. After several days in hiding, he was apprehended when a relative reported him to the police. During interrogation, Otman confessed, claiming he was drunk, and led investigators to the victim's body, which had been missing for five days. Security footage confirmed him withdrawing money from the victim's card.

Otman faces charges including aggravated murder, destruction of evidence, theft, and aggravated credit card fraud.