Police: Man arrested for kidnap, rape of 7-year-old Ashdod girl

Police found the crying, distraught girl in a grove outside Beit Shemesh, authorities says after gag order lifted on case.

By BEN HARTMAN
Sexual harassment victim [Illustrative] (photo credit: INIMAGE)
Sexual harassment victim [Illustrative]
(photo credit: INIMAGE)
A middle-aged Jerusalem man lured a seven-yearold girl into his car with candy, drove her to a secluded forest, and sexually assaulted her, police announced Wednesday, as the suspect was brought for his second remand extension.
The suspect, a 48-year-old taxi driver, was arrested last Thursday. Police described the crime as “a horrific story” and “the nightmare of every parent,” adding that a special investigative team was set up to find the kidnapper-rapist.
On Wednesday they said that among other means they used “advanced technological methods” to find the man, but did not elaborate further.
The victim told police the suspect kidnapped her from outside her school in Ashdod, where she was waiting for a ride home on December 2. Police say she told them he lured her into his vehicle with candy and then drove her to a secluded forest near Beit Shemesh, where he sexually assaulted her.
The girl was found later that day, crying and distraught along a highway outside Beit Shemesh.
The suspect was arrested on Thursday night and has linked himself to the case. The case was kept under a gag order until the suspect appeared in court for the second time on Wednesday.