The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of David Krauss, who is suspected of involvement in the burning of a soldier in effigy in Meah Shearim on the night of Lag B’Omer. He was taken into custody on Monday, 12 Elul.

The police asked to extend the detention of 21-year-old Krauss for three days as the probe into the case continues. He is suspected of incitement to violence against IDF soldiers and damage to the honor of the state. “On the day of the incident, the respondent went underground and shut his phone. A number of attempts were made to locate him and bring him to the investigation,” a police spokesman explained, adding he eventually turned himself over.

His attorney, Nadav Gedalyahu, told the court that the three suspects arrested a few days after the burning of the soldier’s effigy, aged 11, 14 and 21, were released shortly before their arrest and requested his release to house arrest outside of Jerusalem. Judge David Gidoni noted that the investigation material. A reasonable suspicion of the intensity required at this stage and his actions attest to the existence of a certain danger. However, he said that “the main reason for detention in my opinion is based on suspicion of disturbing the investigation.”

Judge Gidoni also referred to the lengthy period in which he was required for interrogation and did not report, and extended his detention as requested by the police in three days.

David is a son of the Eida Chareidis Operations Officer, Yolish Kraus, who together with attorney Gedalyahu, continue urging him to turn himself over to authorities. Yolish explains “this is his fifth arrest and his is quite calm. I was first arrested at the age of 17/18 but he began way before this and quite honestly, there is nothing and nothing will come of this”.

Krauss senior concludes “Since the burning of the soldier in effigy they have been calling me at home as they search for David but he is almost never at home” he told Chadrei Chareidim.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)