Entrance to Shaare Zedek Medical Center
Photo: Gil Yohanan
East Jerusalem resident suspected of raping woman in maternity ward
Hazem Rasheq, 29, is also suspected of stealing a cellphone from the Shaare Zedek Medical Center and attempting to rob a supermarket in southern Jerusalem.
A resident of eastern Jerusalem's Anata neighborhood was arrested on Saturday on suspicion he sexually assaulted a woman at the maternity ward of the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in the capital, police said Sunday morning.
Hazem Rasheq, 29, is also suspected of stealing a cellphone from the hospital and attempting to rob a supermarket in southern Jerusalem.
Police launched an investigation after receiving a report from the medical center's security officer about the rape of a patient and also the theft of a cellphone.
The maternity ward at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center
The investigation found that Rasheq, who works at a supermarket in southern Jerusalem, entered a branch of the supermarket chain Shufersal on Friday and stole several items. When the owner noticed Rasheq stealing, however, the latter dropped the items and fled.
Later, the east Jerusalem resident entered the Shaare Zedek Medical Center's maternity ward, where he pretended to be a doctor and asked to examine three patients. He sexually attacked one of these patients, and then fled again.
Police sought to extend his remand by 10 days, citing a criminal record. The Jerusalem Magistrates' Court extended the remand by eight days, while determining there is a reasonable suspicion Rasheq committed the alleged offenses.
