Court Extends Detention of Ashkelon Daycare Workers Accused of Abuse

A Magistrate's Court in Ashkelon extended the detention of four daycare workers suspected of abusing toddlers until Monday. The names of three of the suspects, Svetlana Buzdmov, Tatiana Plotnikov, and Anastasia Supronova, have been cleared for publication. The name of the daycare's manager has not yet been released.

The four were arrested this week following a police report alleging violent behavior towards children aged one to three in two daycare centers in the city operating under the same management. The court extended their remand, with Judge Chen Ben Haim stating there is reasonable suspicion of offenses being committed. The judge noted that the situation depicted is not minor or a one-time event, but rather systematic behavior in both centers for which the respondents are responsible. The judge also indicated that evidence suggests actual obstruction of justice.

"Beyond the fact that viewing the documents and the combination of videos is sufficient, at this stage, the injuries combined with the videos point to massive abuse by one of the suspects, and certainly no distinction should be made between them at this stage," the judge added, emphasizing the severity of the alleged abuse.