David Avraham
Photo: Avi Cohen
Muslim suspected of killing her pimp
19-year-old Merav Cechkin and two Palestinians, ages 24 and 28, are suspected of murdering David Avraham last Thursday in Tel Aviv. Cechkin immigrated to Israel from a former Soviet republic a few years ago and then converted to Islam. She is suspected of making a copy of a key to an apartment in which Avraham was staying and then leading her Palestinian friends to it
A 19-year-old prostitute and two Palestinians, ages 24 and 28, are suspected of intentionally killing the prostitute’s pimp, David Avraham, last Thursday on Jabotinsky Street in Tel Aviv.
Avraham was strangled to death when a plastic bag was placed over his head after he was severely beaten.
The prostitute, Merav Cechkin, immigrated to Israel from a former Soviet republic a few years ago and then converted to Islam. She is suspected of making a copy of a key to an apartment in which Avraham was staying and then leading her Palestinian friends to it.
The Tel Aviv Magistrates Court extended the suspects’ remand by 13 days.
On Friday morning Avraham’s employee arrived at the office from which he ran his brothel and found his body on the floor, handcuffed with a plastic bag over his head.
She immediately dispatched the Yarkon District Police, which launched an investigation into the killing.
Initially investigators believed Avraham was killed due to a dispute with fellow brothel owners, and proceeded to question the 15 prostitutes who worked for Avraham.
During her interrogation, Chechkin, known as “Sandy” to her clients, broke down and told the investigators she had made a copy of the key to Avraham’s office and transferred it to the Palestinians – 24-year-old Salama Abu Rida and Bassam Yatzatza, 28 – so they may rob Avraham.
'Cechkin was on the look-out'
Chechkin said she did not anticipate Avraham would be in his office during the robbery.
According to investigators, five people, among them the two Palestinian suspects, arrived at Avraham’s office Thursday night. A scuffle broke out during the robbery, and Avraham was handcuffed and brutally beaten; then a plastic bag was placed over his head, suffocating him to death.
Police launched a wide-scale manhunt for the suspects for fear they would escape to the territories. Officers were able to track two of them down in Tel Aviv.
The two Palestinians who were nabbed, reenacted the murder for investigators.
Police are still searching for the other three suspects.
The attorney who represented the police during the court proceedings said Chechkin was waiting outside Avraham’s office as a look out, while the suspects robbed and killed him.
