Tel Aviv Court Extends Detention of Four Suspects in Soldier Rifle Robbery
The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court extended the detention of four suspects accused of attacking an active-duty soldier and stealing his military rifle during a gathering in Holon.
Israeli police arrested four suspects following a complaint by an active-duty soldier who alleged he was lured to an apartment in Holon, violently attacked, and robbed of his military rifle. The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court on Sunday extended the detention of the four suspects, aged 26 to 47, by five days.
According to the police investigation, the incident began on Friday evening when the soldier was invited to a social gathering and allegedly instructed to bring his army-issued weapon. He was picked up from his home and taken to the Holon apartment, where five to six people were present. The soldier reported that his rifle was seized under knife threat, and he was released hours later after being told the firearm had been removed from the premises.
The soldier filed a police complaint on Friday at approximately 21:30 upon leaving the apartment, prompting officers to rush to the scene and apprehend the suspects. Authorities have launched a joint probe involving the Military Police, though the stolen weapon remains unrecovered and additional suspects are being sought on charges of robbery, assault, and threats.
During the remand hearing, defense attorneys challenged the soldier's account, questioning why he willingly attended the gathering armed with his rifle and suggesting he may have lost or sold the weapon. However, Judge Sigal Dumnitz Samach rejected these arguments, ruling that the initial evidence establishes a reasonable suspicion against the suspects and citing the risk of obstruction of justice as grounds for extending their custody.
