The main suspect in the murder of Beniahu Razi was arrested Tuesday afternoon, according to Israeli media. Police suspect an Israel Prison Service officer had a romantic relationship with the suspect's brother and helped him evade capture.
The main suspect in the murder of Beniahu Razi, Avior Sasson, was arrested Tuesday afternoon inside a taxi at the Harel Tunnel on Highway 1, bringing an end to a weeklong manhunt. The arrest followed a series of detentions of the suspect's relatives and an Israel Prison Service officer.
The day's developments began earlier Tuesday, when reports emerged that a female Israel Prison Service officer, 34, from Hod Hasharon, had been arrested on suspicion of obstruction of investigation and breach of trust. By 11:09 Jerusalem, multiple outlets reported that the officer was suspected of having a romantic relationship with the suspect's brother, Rotem Hodida, an inmate at the same prison. According to N12, the officer is also suspected of providing her phone to the inmate to conceal the fugitive's location. The officer has denied the allegations, according to i24NEWS, claiming she met Sasson only once.
As The Zioneer reported earlier this week, the investigation had already led to the arrest of several relatives of the suspect, including his 15-year-old sister, in what sources described as a strategic pressure tactic. The case began with the murder of Beniahu Razi in a Jerusalem Airbnb, with initial suspicions falling on a 19-year-old female soldier who had a toxic relationship with the victim.
The investigation continues. The officer's role in the alleged escape remains under scrutiny, and the full extent of the alleged conspiracy has not yet been detailed.
6 developments
- DevelopingRelative of Fugitive Suspect Arrested in Beniahu Razi Murder
- StrongTwo suspects in Beniahu Razi murder get extended detention as manhunt continues
- StrongSuspect in Jerusalem murder is IDF soldier with toxic history with victim
- StrongCourt Extends Detention of Suspect in Beniahu Razi Murder by 4 Days
Source and signal
- Open-source intake