Congo national charged with murdering woman over NIS 200

Aritzia Songo allegedly strangled, threw Zehava Chakol out of window after she demanded he pay small debt, threatening to shout rape if he didn't

Naama Cohen Friedman|Published: 04.22.13 , 13:04

An indictment was filed Monday against the Congo national for the murder of Zehava Chakol.

Aritzia Songo, 30, is accused of strangling Chakol to death and throwing her body out of a hotel room's window.

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According to the indictment, Chakol and Songo first met late March at Tel Aviv's Central Bus Station and went out for drinks in a local pub.

Songo, homeless, was staying in the Netanya hotel apartment of a fellow Congo national, a soccer player for an Israeli top league team.

Songo and Chakol arranged to meet at the hotel on March 26. Songo arrived four hours late and met a frustrated Chakol, who demanded he pay her the NIS 200 he owed her.

Songo, trying to avoid payment, said he only has $100, but Chakol threatened that if he will not pay she will yell out that he raped her.

At this stage, says the indictment, Songo strangled Chakol with one hand, slapping her with the other.

When the accused noticed Chakol stopped breathing, he opened the hotel room's window and threw her body outside.

The prosecutor motioned the Lod District Court to depose the soccer player early, as he intends to leave the country following the end of his contract. The prosecutor also motioned to remand the defendant pending the conclusion of legal proceedings.