Chaos in southern Israel: "Bring 10,000 shekels or you are finished"
Ran Amkays, a Be'er Sheva resident, extorted a man from the Negev for a year, escalating to kidnapping and assault. Despite attempts to obstruct justice, all three suspects were indicted.
"Bring 10,000 shekels or you are finished," threatened 24-year-old Ran Amkays, a resident of Be'er Sheva, to a man from the Negev. The extortion began after a failed car deal, with Amkays demanding payment to "close the story." The harassment lasted a year until Amkays lured the victim to Be'er Sheva under the guise of meeting a lender.
Once in the car, Amkays picked up his accomplice, 20-year-old Nehorai Haimi, who brandished an object resembling a pistol. They drove the victim to a secluded area near the Hatzerim cemetery, where they threatened and beat him, seizing his mobile phone as partial payment for the alleged debt.
During a second escape attempt near the Tifrach junction, Amkays lost control of the vehicle while threatening the victim with a knife, crashing into a car at a traffic light. The victim managed to flee to a nearby bus stop and alert the police. Although Amkays initially evaded arrest by providing his brother's name, his accomplice Omer Ilil later returned to the scene to intimidate the victim and wipe his phone data.
Police utilized security camera footage to reconstruct the crime, leading to the suspects' arrest. While Amkays maintained an alibi, Haimi confessed during interrogation. The Southern District Attorney's Office has filed indictments against all three. Amkays and Haimi face charges of kidnapping for murder or extortion, extortion, and assault. Ilil is charged with obstruction of justice. Prosecutors have requested that the defendants remain in custody, citing the calculated nature of the crimes and the risk of witness tampering.
