2 Palestinians indicted for kidnapping Israeli cabbie
Riad Qa'ad, Jalal Abdullah of Birzeit face kidnapping charges at Judea, Samaria Military Court for abducting Israeli taxi driver Meir Chayu in mid December
The two Palestinians who were implicated in the kidnapping of Israeli taxi driver Meir Chayu one month ago were indicted Sunday at the Judea and Samaria Military Court.
Riad Qa'ad and Jalal Abdullah of the West Bank city of Birzeit were charged with kidnapping Chayu after boarding his cab in Bnei Brak and forcing him to take them to the West Bank.
Chayu apparently new one of the men and agreed to the fare – originally requested for Kfar Qassem – but during the drive, his passengers suddenly changed their minds, asking him to take them to the West Bank village of Azun instead.
According to the indictment, after passing several military checkpoints, Chayu became suspicious, at which point his passengers began to threaten him and told him to take them to a number of different Palestinians towns.
Chayu reportedly attempted to escape but was overpowered by his assailants, who beat him, robbed him, tied him up and left him at the side of the road.
The Palestinians drove the cab back to Kfar Qassem and deserted the car. Chayu was able to reach a nearby village, where some friendly residents helped him call for assistance.
After several hours, police and IDF forces located him in Jam'in and rescued him. Later, they also found his taxi on the trans-Samaria highway near Ariel.
The two were later apprehended in the West Bank, and therefore will be tried by the Judea and Samaria Military Court.
