Three Arrested in Beersheba Over Violent Kidnapping and Extortion Threats

In Beersheba, southern Israel, Ran Amkaies threatened a man from the Negev region with severe violence demanding 10,000 shekels. The victim, fearing for his safety, met Amkaies in Beersheba, who then drove him to a northern neighborhood where he picked up his accomplice, 20-year-old Nehorai Haimi, who brandished an object resembling a gun. They drove near the city cemetery and threatened the man, who tried to escape but was caught and beaten. Amkaies demanded the victim’s phone and passcode, claiming the phone’s value would offset part of the debt.

The victim was later driven toward the north, attempting another escape at the Tifrah junction after Amkaies threatened to stab him. Amkaies lost control of the car, crashing into a commercial vehicle at a red light. The victim fled to a nearby bus stop and asked a passerby to call the police. Amkaies then called another associate, Omer Ilal, who arrived and tried to recapture the victim but failed. Police arrived, took the victim’s statement, and pursued Amkaies, who initially gave a false identity and was released. Ilal later pressured the victim to retract his complaint and deleted content from his phone.

Following the victim’s formal complaint, police arrested Amkaies, Haimi, and Ilal. During interrogation, Haimi confessed and implicated Amkaies. The Southern District Prosecutor’s Office filed indictments against all three, charging Amkaies with kidnapping for murder or extortion, extortion by threats, causing serious injury, obstruction of justice, and assaulting an officer. Haimi faces similar charges, while Ilal is charged with obstruction and attempting to influence the investigation. Prosecutors requested their detention pending trial, citing risks of witness tampering and flight, and noted the victim’s fear for his safety due to the defendants’ violent and calculated actions.