Two active players from the National League and League A, along with a former player, were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the rape of a 29-year-old tourist from the United States during her visit to Israel, where they met her during a night out.
According to the police, the tourist reported that she was raped at the beginning of the month at a hostel in Tel Aviv. Following an intensive investigation by detectives from the Sarat police station (Shfela, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv), three young men from Netanya were arrested - two active players aged 21 and 25, and a former player.
On Tuesday, they are scheduled to appear at a hearing to extend their detention at the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court. Detectives from the Sarat police station, in cooperation with Border Police officers from Tel Aviv, arrested the three suspects on Monday evening. All are in their 20s and are suspected of raping the tourist.
The incident allegedly occurred at a hostel in the city in early November.
Preliminary investigation findings indicate that the tourist reported the assault to the police on November 1, stating that she had been raped during her stay in Tel Aviv. Investigators immediately began examining her complaint, collecting evidence from the scene, and questioning witnesses.
Speculation the victim was drugged
The suspects maintain that the encounter was consensual, but the complainant firmly denies this claim. The current speculation is that she was drugged during the encounter with the first suspect, who met her and later called his two friends to join them in the hotel room, according to a report by Ynet.
The three suspects were taken to the Sarat police station for interrogation. On Tuesday, they will be presented at a hearing to determine whether their detention should be extended, during which the police are expected to request continued custody for further investigation.