During a hearing at the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court, Judge Gil Gabbai ordered the extension of the detention of a 20-year-old suspect from Jerusalem for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of 10-year-old Yahli Sofer. The case, which has garnered significant attention, began last Sunday when the child was reported missing; he was eventually located in Bnei Brak late that night. According to Ynet, police revealed a significant development during the hearing, as the police representative stated that authorities possess information suggesting the suspect may have been involved in the assault of other minors at various locations throughout the country. The police representative noted that this new information is currently under thorough investigation.
Conversely, attorney Frieda Wall, representing the suspect, presented a defense strategy focusing on the suspect's personal circumstances. She argued that the suspect suffers from an intellectual disability and, based on this, requested that the judge consider releasing him to an alternative detention arrangement or, at minimum, reducing the detention period. Despite the defense's arguments, Judge Gabbai ruled that there is reasonable suspicion against the suspect and decided to grant the police request to extend his detention by four additional days, until this coming Thursday.
The case concerns an incident where the suspect allegedly approached a group of children at a playground, used manipulation to persuade Yahli Sofer to accompany him, and even instructed the child to beg for money. The child's mother testified that her son described a situation of fear and exploitation by the suspect. The suspect's version, provided during questioning, differs significantly; he claimed he did not commit a kidnapping but instead encountered the boy on the street, and that he understood the child to be lost, therefore attempting to assist him in returning home. The legal proceedings continue as law enforcement authorities deepen their investigation into additional events attributed to the suspect. It is important to emphasize that at this stage, these are claims being examined by the police and based on reasonable suspicion as determined by the court, and the suspect's case has not yet been decided.