Israel extends detention of soldier in case involving crimes against minors
A court in Israel extended until Thursday, September 10, the detention of a 20-year-old serviceman from Bat Yam suspected of sexual crimes against minors. As reported by the Jerusalem Post, police believe that he posed online as a 16-year-old boy to contact girls aged 14 and 15.
Messages on TikTok and WhatsApp
According to Israeli police, the suspect initially contacted the girls on TikTok and then moved the correspondence to WhatsApp. There, he allegedly persuaded them to send explicit photographs, after which, according to investigators, he began blackmailing and threatening them.
Investigators established that the serviceman knew the girls were minors. During questioning, he reportedly admitted that he concealed his real age so they would continue communicating with him. Police also attribute to him a threat to throw a grenade into one of the girls' homes and kill her and her family.
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He is suspected of sexual crimes against minors, sexual blackmail, sexual harassment, and threats. An arrest warrant was issued on August 25, after which the suspect was detained by Bat Yam police. At his lawyer's request, he is to undergo a psychiatric examination. The investigation is ongoing.
A separate case in Holon
In another case, a court released from custody 37-year-old Holon resident Erez Aviad Cohen, who is also suspected of sexual crimes against minors. He was prohibited from contacting any of the persons involved in the case and ordered to appear for questioning when summoned.
Previously, police told the court that suspicions against Cohen had intensified, in particular because of the possible deletion of content from his mobile phone before it was handed over to investigators. Authorities also considered a suspicion that since April he had posed as a 12-year-old girl and joined WhatsApp groups containing girls under the age of 10. Cohen's lawyers stated that the suspicions against their client were unfounded, while police continue to examine the case materials.
