Suspect in Rape of 18-Year-Old in Bat Yam: 'She Came to Me Alone – I'm Innocent'

The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court extended until August 10 the detention of a 51-year-old Bat Yam resident suspected of raping an 18-year-old woman at a serviced apartment in the city. The suspect denies the allegations, claiming the acts were consensual. Judge Ra'anan Baruch ruled there is reasonable suspicion of an offense committed while exploiting the complainant's disability.

The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court extended until August 10 the detention of a 51-year-old Bat Yam resident suspected of raping an 18-year-old woman at a serviced apartment in the city. During the hearing, the suspect denied the allegations, saying: "I'm innocent. She came to me alone while I was sitting at Aroma with a friend. I'm willing to undergo a test." Judge Ra'anan Baruch ruled there is reasonable suspicion that the suspect committed "penetration of a woman's body while exploiting her being a woman with a mental impairment, and without her free consent." The investigation was opened yesterday following a report to the 100 hotline about a suspected violent rape. The suspect was arrested in an open area in the city. His attorney, Gil Friedman, stated that the suspect claims the acts were fully consensual and denies the claim regarding disabilities.