A police investigation into the alleged abduction and torture of a resident of Israel reveals the victim was abducted, held in a bomb shelter with a small bottle of water, without food, for four days. As a result of the revelation of the case, two suspects, residents of Rehovot, were taken into custody. A 24-year-old seems to be responsible for the abduction of the man and a 19-year-old of striking and torturing the victim.

The case began after Israel Police last month received information that last June, because of a NIS 3000 debt, the victim was severely beaten a number of times with the goal of extracting the sum from him. The investigation revealed that after the assault, the man was placed in a locked bomb shelter with a small bottle of water and no food; basically, abandoned for four days. When the man was finally released, he required treatment in an emergency room for his head injuries. The incident occurred about a half year ago.

The victim is a resident of Rishon L’Tzion. A vehicle stopped aside him, and a man got out and pushed him into the vehicle, where a second suspect was seated. They traveled to the old movie theater in Kiryat Moshe, Rehovot. They placed him inside a shelter in the abandoned building after beating him with metallic rods and taking off his pants. They then began beating him all over, and then his hands and feet were tied with rope. He was left this way with the small bottle of water.

He was released after four days and told he better find the money, also told his NIS 3000 debt increased to NIS 15,000. Following the ordeal, he raised the money via close friends and family members.

Police then became involved and an undercover investigation was launched, leading to the arrests.

The prosecution is preparing the indictments, which are set to be filed sometime this week.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)