Nova Party Equipment Thief Sentenced to Seven Years

A Beer Sheva Magistrate's Court has sentenced Ram Shahin to seven years in prison for aggravated theft and obtaining property by deception. Shahin was convicted of stealing sound equipment left at the site of the Nova music festival after the October 7th Hamas attack. The court also sentenced Daniel Hasson to 40 months in prison as part of a plea deal for attempted aggravated fraud. The sentencing for San Lucian Tebel, who pleaded guilty to aiding in the theft, will be determined later.

Judge Amir Doron emphasized the severe nature of the crimes, committed in the immediate aftermath of the October 7th attack. He noted that Matan Lior, a sound technician who worked at the festival, remained to help rescue the injured and was killed. The judge stated that while victims' blood was still on the ground and the nation mourned, the defendants chose to desecrate the dead and human dignity, hindering rescue efforts.

In Shahin's case, the court found he deliberately exploited the crisis, rejecting his claim of intending to help. Shahin misled soldiers and a police investigator to gain access to the festival grounds and transport stolen equipment via truck. He even visited Lior's family during the mourning period while possessing the stolen gear.

According to the indictment filed by prosecutor Tchila Nidam, two sound systems belonging to Lior's company were left at the site. Two days after the attack, the defendants hired a truck driver to collect one system and a generator. Shahin and Hasson posed as friends collecting a missing associate's equipment. The generator's movement triggered an alarm, leading to the truck driver's arrest and the equipment's seizure. Shahin later falsely claimed to be Lior's partner to secure the truck's release. The pair returned for the second system, with Shahin again using deception. He eventually returned the first system only after police intervention, despite promising its return earlier.

Shahin also received a 12-month suspended sentence, a 60,000 shekel fine, and was ordered to pay 75,000 shekels in compensation to Lior's family and 25,000 shekels to Amity Nachum. Hasson received suspended sentences, a 30,000 shekel fine, and was ordered to pay 40,000 shekels to Lior's family and 15,000 shekels to Nachum.