Krayot Taxi Driver Suspected of Raping 16-Year-Old Passenger, Remanded for Three More Days

The Krayot Magistrate’s Court on Monday extended by three days the remand of Albert Ismailov, a 33-year-old taxi driver from Kiryat Yam and former Border Police officer, who is suspected of raping a 16-year-old girl he drove after she ordered him through the Gett Taxi app. The alleged incident took place in April. Following the allegations, the company removed him from its service.

At the request of Walla and other media outlets, Judge Orit Kantor authorized publication of his identity. Ismailov denies the allegations. Zivulun police had asked for a 10-day extension of custody.

Police representative Attorney Tzvika Amir told the court that since the arrest, which began after the minor filed a complaint, additional complaints had been received and the investigation was still in its early stages. He said there was concern that releasing Ismailov could obstruct the probe and that detectives needed time to complete planned investigative steps.

Defense attorneys Tomer Naveh and Assaf Cohen asked for his release, arguing that he has no criminal record, that some of the contact underlying the suspicion was, in their view, consensual, and that he cooperated with investigators. They said, "A month ago his world collapsed, not because he committed an offense, but because, according to his version, he made a moral mistake without realizing it, after being misled about the complainant’s age." They also claimed the complainant did not go to police, but instead turned to criminal figures who tried to threaten and harm him, and that those figures later understood it was fabricated and dropped the matter.

Judge Kantor said she reviewed the case file and confidential material and found reasonable suspicion linking Ismailov to the alleged offenses, but she granted only a three-day extension rather than the 10 days requested by police.