The Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court extended this week the detention of Ahmed Al-Rajoub (23) from Ramla by an additional nine days, on suspicion of involvement in the murder of attorney Arbel Feldman. Adv. Feldman was shot to death on August 4 inside his office located on Rozanski Street in the city. During the hearing, which was also attended by the victim’s father, Israel Feldman, the police presented the progress of the investigation and requested to keep the suspect in custody.
According to police reports, since the previous remand hearing, numerous investigative actions have been carried out, including gathering testimonies, collecting findings from security cameras, and laboratory tests. Law enforcement officials noted that these actions have strengthened the suspicion against Al-Rajoub, with the central motive for the act identified as a financial dispute of 15,000 shekels. The police representative described the chain of events in court, claiming the suspect arrived at the office with intent, committed the shooting, and fled the scene toward the police station in Ashdod, where he was arrested.
It was further noted that the suspect chose to exercise his right to silence during his interrogation. Conversely, Al-Rajoub's attorneys, Oren Sasson and Moshe Yamin, criticized the handling of the investigation, claiming their client has not been re-interrogated since the last hearing. Furthermore, the defense raised concerns regarding the suspect's mental state, arguing he is currently unfit to stand trial. Consequently, Judge Oshrat Hoover-Hayman ordered that the suspect be examined by a psychiatrist within 24 hours.
In her ruling, the judge determined that while suspicion against Al-Rajoub has increased, she only partially granted the police's request. The judge clarified that she was presented with confidential information regarding the delay in re-interrogating the suspect, adding that the police must present Al-Rajoub's response to the accusations during the additional detention period. This case has caused a stir, particularly due to the emotional outcry of the victim's father during the hearing, who challenged the claims regarding the suspect's mental state while emphasizing the gravity of the act. Adv. Feldman is survived by a wife, three children, and his parents.