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Police: Evidence links crime boss Abergil to woman's beach murder By Jonathan Lis Tags: Itzik Abergil, Bat Yam Police have evidence directly linking reputed crime boss Itzik Abergil to the murder of Margarita Lautin on a Bat Yam beach two weeks ago, Superintendent Avi Gur, of the Serious and International Crimes Unit, told the court Friday. Speaking at Abergil's remand hearing at the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court, Gur said Abergil has been linked to a contract to assassinate two of his "soldiers" who were on the beach, dining near Lautin, when she was shot in front of her children. Abergil was arrested Thursday night at 9:30 P.M. near his home in the Negev town of Arad. Police mounted a thorough search of his home, which they believe is the headquarters of his alleged crime network. Advertisement Abergil, who has been changed with murder and conspiracy to commit a crime, is reportedly not cooperating with the investigation. Police suspect he ordered two of his operatives to kill the men in question after he had a falling out with them. A police source had said they hoped to connect Abergil directly to Lautin's murder, and to break up his organization by putting him behind bars. He is believed to lead one of the largest organized crime groups in the country. However, another source said incriminating Abergil was a long way off. "The fact that the head of a crime organization is under arrest doesn't necessarily mean that he can be incriminated. I don't rule out the possibility that in a few days, investigators will decide there's nothing to hold him on, and he'll be released," the source said. Gur told the court that not all the suspicions against Abergil involve his alleged membership in a crime organization. The prosecution asked Judge Nachum Sternlicht, who is also hearing the cases of other shooting suspects, to remand Abergil for 15 days. Abergil's lawyer, Sharon Nahary, objected, noting that his client had been summoned several times for questioning in other cases, and always appeared as asked. Sternlicht rejected Nahary's argument, on the grounds that Abergil was dangerous and should not be released due to the gravity of the charges against him and the concern that he might obstruct the investigation if he were free. In granting the remand, albeit for 10 days instead of 15 days, Sternlicht said there was "a sufficient evidentiary basis" connecting Abergil to Lautin's murder. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A Model Zionist How did Bar Rafaeli conquer the U.S. blogs and gossip columns? A lost pillar Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish to be laid to rest in Ramallah, mourned for 3 days.   1.   Linking Evidence 08:20  |  HAL. 10/08/08

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