Last update - 00:00 31/10/2007
Seven accused of kidnapping, beating soldier over alleged theft
By Roni Zinger-Heruti, Haaretz Correspondent
A Ramle court on Wednesday will hear a request for an extension of the remand of seven suspects Police believe kidnapped and tortured a 26-year-old soldier from Rishon Letzion. Police believe the suspects kidnapped the soldier because they suspected him of stealing money and jewelry from a friend of theirs.
Ten days ago, Police believe a woman from Rishon Letzion 32, a mother of five invited the soldier to her home. The soldier was reportedly romantically involved with the woman up until recently, and since their breakup she repeatedly accused him of stealing $880 and jewelry from her house, a charge the soldier repeatedly denied.
When the man entered the woman's house, he was reportedly set upon by the suspects, who tied him up and began beating him and questioning him about the suspected theft.
The suspects, including four men, two women and a 17-year-old girl, reportedly forced the soldier to sign an admission of theft while they whipped him with a belt and punched and beat him with a stick.
Police believe that the suspects then forced the soldier into their car and began driving towards Gaza. On the way, they stopped at a beach in Ashdod where they forced the soldier into a hole and threatened to bury him alive. They then reportedly continued to beat him before leaving him in the hole.
With his remaining strength, the soldier managed to make his way back home to Rishon Letzion. The nightmare began anew the next night when the suspects reportedly broke into his home, kidnapping him an additional time before taking him to Palmahim beach south of Tel Aviv where they left him severely beaten on the sand.
A passerby noticed an injured man lying on the beach and called an ambulance. When the soldier arrived at the hospital, he filed a complaint with Police, who opened an investigation.
Police investigator Dodi Boani on Wednesday told Haaretz the incident was of a very grave nature, but that there is substantial, credible evidence implicating the suspects.
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