Chaos in southern Israel: "Bring 10,000 shekels or you're done"

Ran Amkayes, a resident of Be'er Sheva, was arrested along with two other suspects on suspicion of kidnapping, extortion by threats, and assault of a man from the Negev. According to the indictment, Amkayes and his friend Nahorai Haimi threatened the victim, demanding payment of 10,000 shekels, kidnapped him in a car, beat him, and threatened him with a gun. The police arrested the three after the victim escaped and filed a complaint. The prosecution filed serious charges, including kidnapping for the purpose of murder or extortion.

Ran Amkayes, a resident of Be'er Sheva, was arrested along with Nahorai Haimi (20) and Omer Ilal, on suspicion of involvement in a kidnapping and extortion case of a man from the Negev. According to the indictment, Amkayes threatened the man, demanding payment of 10,000 shekels, and then drove him to a northern neighborhood in Be'er Sheva, where he picked up Haimi, who entered the car holding an object resembling a gun. The two drove the man to the cemetery, threatened him, beat him, and demanded his mobile phone and unlock code, saying the phone's value would be deducted from the debt. Later, the man tried to escape twice, and on the second attempt, after Amkayes collided with a commercial vehicle, he managed to flee and ran to a bus stop, where he asked a passerby to call the police. Ilal, who arrived at the scene, demanded the man withdraw the complaint and erased the contents of his phone. The police arrested the three, and Haimi broke down during interrogation and confessed. The prosecution filed indictments against the three, including serious offenses such as kidnapping for murder or extortion, extortion by threats, and assault causing actual bodily harm. Attorney Hila Malul from the prosecution requested their detention until the end of proceedings, citing concerns they might influence witnesses or endanger public safety.