The Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office has filed a serious indictment at the Jerusalem District Court against 41-year-old Yan Shamla from Be'er Sheva, regarding a series of criminal offenses committed during May and June 2026. According to the indictment, filed by Advocate Moriah Beina Wiseman, the defendant inserted prescription benzodiazepine medications, including Clonex and Lorivan, into "Prinuk" brand baby food jars. It is alleged that the defendant crushed the pills, inserted them into the jars, sealed them, and placed them on store shelves at the "Zol V'Gadol" chain in Jerusalem.
The indictment specifies that in two instances, each jar contained the equivalent of 17 pills or more. In these cases, jars purchased by parents were fed to toddlers, including infants under one year of age. Consequently, five toddlers fell ill, suffered from loss of consciousness, extreme weakness, and confusion, and were rushed for urgent medical treatment in hospitals. Medical examinations revealed a level of toxicity ten times higher than the normal range.
Following the discovery of the incident, the products were recalled from the chain, and administrative closure orders were issued for the involved branches. The indictment charges Shamla with five counts of using a dangerous poison and five counts of assaulting a minor or a helpless person, alongside additional charges of attempted assault, use of poison, and theft. The District Attorney’s Office stated that these are grave actions targeting essential products intended for infant nutrition.
The defendant was arrested about two weeks ago, and upon filing the indictment, the State requested that the court order his continued detention until the end of legal proceedings. As of the time of the filing, the motive for the actions has not yet been determined. The allegations brought against the defendant in the indictment have not yet been adjudicated in court.