An indictment filed today (Monday) by Attorney Sharon Schwartz of the Southern District Attorney's Office raises a very serious case of violence, which began in December, when the complainant contacted a bookmaker who asked him, as a condition for gambling, to transfer NIS 12,000.
Extortion with threats and force Bakery owner in Beer Sheva // Private photo, courtesy of the business
After the agent opened the possibility for him to gamble, the complainant won the sum of NIS 6,900. The complainant then contacted the agent in order to receive the winnings, and the two arranged to meet in Ashkelon. At around 22:00 P.M., the complainant drove out in the direction of the meeting area. When he arrived nearby, a man holding a knife emerged from a vehicle, with the other three defendants in the car at the time.
Ron Abergil allegedly put the knife to the complainant's neck and ordered him to get into his car. He sat down next to him on the back bench and another man drove the car. During the ride, Abergil hit the complainant with a knife and punches to the head, and threatened the complainant by telling him that if he did not bring them money and his car, they would kill him. They also told him that if he went to the police, they would throw grenades at his house.
Kidnapped, beaten and threatened. (Illustration), photo: Police Spokesperson's Office
The complainant begged for his life and told Abergil to pay them, as long as they let him. Some time later, the vehicle arrived at the scene in Rishon LeZion, where Abergil and the other defendants removed the complainant from the vehicle and beat him with punches and kicks to his head and body. At the same time, the accused took the complainant's mobile phone and attempted to make money transfers using it. In addition, the defendants filmed the complainant on their phones and asked him to say that he was giving them his car of his own free will, and even instructed him to say that the defendants did not threaten him.
Later, another vehicle arrived with two other people, one of whom hit the complainant in the face and threatened him not to "spew nonsense," during a phone conversation with his father, in which Abergil threatened the father that if he did not pay the defendants a sum of approximately NIS 40,000, they would "murder his child," adding that the complainant owed them money.
The complainant's father replied that he could not transfer the money to them, and in response Abergil kicked his son so that he could hear him screaming and groaning in pain. At some point, the defendants ceased their actions, took the complainant's car and mobile phone, and threatened him that if he went to the police they would kill him, and that if they went to jail, they had officials to take care of the matter for them.
Stabbing a knife (illustration), photo: Israel Police
In the motion for remand against 23-year-old Ron Abergil, 22-year-old Ofek Dahan, 20-year-old Daniel Levy, and 22-year-old Haim Bitran, filed by Adv. Schwartz, it was noted that: "The respondents committed serious offenses of extortion, kidnapping and violence, while equipping themselves with assault weapons and a knife, all after planning. If the respondents are released, there is a real risk that they will repeat offenses and endanger the complainant and the public. The investigation material indicates that the complainant experienced a traumatic event."
The defendants were charged with kidnapping for the purpose of murder or extortion, robbery, extortion by threats, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a knife and impeachment during interrogation.
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