Police said Sunday that five people are set to be charged in the case that sees dozens of men accused of gang raping a teenage girl at a hotel in the city of Eilat. Sources said only four of the accused are said to be indicted on rape charges.
At least 14 men had been arrested so far in connection with the sexual assault case, which shocked Israel, after a 16-year-old girl two weeks ago filed a police complaint alleging she had been raped in the Red Sea Hotel by a number of men.
Out of the 14 suspects arrested thus far, two 27-year-old adults from Hadera and two 17-year-old underage brothers are believed to be the ones set to be charged with actively partaking in the sexual assault of the teenager in her hotel room.
At least ten other suspects are set to be charged with failing to prevent a crime as well as aiding and abating a statutory rape.
The two adult suspects will be brought in before court for a remand hearing, while the two teenagers were released under house arrest following court order on Sunday, despite the police's objection.
The police have also submitted a request to the Ashkelon Magistrate's Court to extend the remand of other underage suspect. Another teen, accused of failing to prevent the assault, had also been released under house arrest.
The parents of the two teenage brothers arrived in court for the first time on Sunday and claimed their sons are innocent. "The police are pinning on them a case they had nothing to do with," said one parent. "They're just boys. This will only ruin their future."
Hagit Peer, the president of NA’AMAT - the largest and leading women’s movement in Israel - called to also indict those who shame and slander the victims of sexual assault on social media.
"Even those sitting behind their keyboard, shedding the blood of the girl, the rape victim, have to pay a heavy price once. I applaud the seriousness with which the incident was taken by the police, but enforcement must not end here," added Peer.
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A protest instigated by the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in Eilat, the sign reads " rape=murder"
(Photo: Shaul Golan)
The alleged rape became known to the public on August 14, although it had occurred two days prior, and has caused an uproar among Israeli public, as well as top political officials and public figures.
According to the police, due to the large number of suspects, a special task force comprised of over 20 analysts, evaluation staff and intelligence coordinators was formed in the Lakhish Regional Council in southern Israel to investigate the case.
Police later said the task force has managed to track the timeline of the incident and locate all the suspects involved, adding that "the victim's testimony was found to be credible and evidence was found to be corroborated."