Suspicion: Sudanese men planned to molest girl

Two foreigners arrested in Jerusalem after girl who went missing found near them. Defense attorneys: Color of their skin played a role in arrest

Noam (Dabul) Dvir|Published: 06.13.13 , 19:50

The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court extended until Sunday the remand of two Sudanese migrants who are suspected of planning to molest a five-year-old girl.

Local police officials said Thursday the girl was not hurt. During the remand hearing it was revealed that according to what the girl told her parents, she may have been hit in the head and blindfolded.

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The two young migrants were arrested in the capital Wednesday after the girl's mother called the police as the suspects were making their way from Mikonor Street to a public park.

The remand hearing revealed that the girl was with the suspects at the time of their arrest. The girl, who was missing for about half an hour, said she was with the suspects for the entire time. The suspects claim she followed them.

The attorneys representing the Sudanese men said they were arrested due to the color of their skin. The police representative at the hearing told the court the suspects did not resist arrest and do not have a criminal record.

"They kidnapped her and she was very scared, as was I," the girl's mother said Thursday. "I was near the house, and in an instant she was gone. She told me she was struck on the head. I was very frightened. I didn’t know what was going to happen to her."

Judge Yaron Mintkevich said the investigation material indicates the allegations against the Sudanese men are sound. "The explanations provided by the defendants are not (reasonable)," the judge wrote in his decision. Police officials said the Sudanese men's remand was extended because they are suspected of committing lewd acts and assaulting the girl.