'What's the penalty for burning a store?': Defendant consulted ChatGPT before setting fire to Givatayim restaurant
An indictment was filed against two 18-year-olds from Rehovot for setting fire to a Givatayim branch of the Japanese restaurant chain G'panika last month. One of the defendants consulted ChatGPT before the arson, asking about the severity of the punishment. The two arrived on an electric scooter, poured flammable liquid, and ignited it. Damage was estimated at tens of thousands of shekels. One defendant also impersonated a police officer during arrest.
An indictment was filed this morning (Friday) against two 18-year-olds from Rehovot for setting fire to a Givatayim branch of G'panika last month, along with impersonation and obstruction of a police officer in the line of duty. i24NEWS obtained a conversation between one of the defendants and ChatGPT from before the arson, in which he tried to find out the penalty for arson. Shortly before the fire, one defendant wrote in ChatGPT: "What's the penalty for burning a store?", "What does 'lengthy prison sentences' mean?", and "What does 'severity of the case' mean?". Later he wrote: "And if the place was closed, no one would be around." After the arson, according to investigation materials, he also followed the articles published about the incident and documented them. According to the indictment, the two arrived at the branch from Bnei Brak riding an electric scooter, dressed in black hoodies, gloves, and face masks, and equipped with incendiary materials. When they reached the restaurant, one of the young men poured flammable liquid on the entrance of the branch and ignited it, and then the two fled. As a result of the arson, the branch suffered damage of tens of thousands of shekels. During the arrest, one of the defendants presented himself under a false name and then began to flee. Therefore, an additional charge of impersonation and obstruction of a police officer was added. During the investigation, evidence linking them to the arson was found in their homes.