Last update - 00:00 04/10/2006
Police arrest Holon man suspected of raping granddaughter
By Roni Singer-Haruti, Haaretz Correspondent
Police arrested a 68-year-old man from Holon who is suspected of raping his granddaughter since the age of two.
The mother of the child, who is now five-years-old, filed a complaint with the police last week claiming she had discovered her daughter had been the victim of sexual abuse on the part of her husband's father.
The girl had complained for a long time of stomach aches and soreness but medical examinations failed to explain her symptoms.
A psychiatrist encouraged the girl to produce drawings which revealed she had been raped by her grandfather, her mother claims.
The police officer in charge of the investigation said the child was fearful the story would be found out and initially refused to cooperate with investigators.
A relative allegedly promised to buy the girl presents if she refused to cooperate with police, the police officer said.
The suspect denied the allegations and said the complaint was a result of an ongoing family feud.