Refusal to pay protection money leads to double murder in the north | Documentation: How the main suspect was caught

Two months after the double murder of Saada Saada and Marwan Abu Shahin in the town of Buq'ata in the northern Golan Heights, an indictment is being filed today, Thursday, against the three defendants who shot the two men after Abu Shahin refused to pay protection money. The investigation was conducted by the Central Unit of the Northern District, under the instruction of District Commander, Nitzav Meir Eliyahu.

On June 19, around 12:00, police received a report regarding gunfire at a vehicle in Buq'ata. The deaths of Abu Shahin (52), a local resident, and his friend Saada (56) from Hurfeish were confirmed at the scene. During the covert phase of the investigation, detectives discovered that a hit squad from a northern criminal organization had organized the murder in advance, having rented a cabin in the northern Golan Heights the day before, arriving in two vehicles purchased from a car lot in I'billin.

Even after the investigation became overt and seven suspects were arrested, the main suspect remained on the run. On the night of July 5, while attempting to locate one of the primary suspects, detectives from the Northern District's Central Unit were operating in Yarka. During the operation, a masked suspect was identified leaving a business after shooting at an employee, who was seriously wounded.

"Detectives began a foot pursuit of the suspect, who attempted to escape. He fired at the detectives and rode a motorcycle suspected of being stolen, while wearing a helmet that concealed his face. Only after he removed the mask did they realize: the suspect in the attempted murder in Yarka was the same suspect in the double murder in the Golan Heights they had been searching for," police stated.

This morning, the Northern District Attorney's Office will file serious indictments in the Nazareth District Court against the three defendants: Ayman Ibrahim (43) from Sajur, Said Madah (28), and Ronen Araida (19) from Maghar, who will also be charged with the attempted murder in Yarka.

Nitzav Meir Eliyahu, Northern District Commander, stated at the conclusion of the investigation:

"Solving murder cases and preventing serious crime are at the top of the Northern District's priorities. The police invest their best resources, technological means, and intelligence capabilities to reach every scene, crack every case, and bring suspects to justice. Our best officers are working with all their might to ensure that everyone who takes part in serious crime is put behind bars."