Suspicion: 24-year-old woman posed as a man named "Uriel Hazan" and committed sex offenses
The name the women knew was "Uriel Hazan". They believed they were interacting with a man online, but investigators suspect a 24-year-old woman from Petah Tikva was behind the profile. The Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court has extended her detention until August 13 on suspicion of serious sex offenses, including rape and indecent acts, committed through deception.
The name the women knew was "Uriel Hazan". They believed they were interacting with a man online, but investigators suspect a 24-year-old woman from Petah Tikva was behind the profile. Today, Monday, the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court extended her detention until August 13 on suspicion of serious sex offenses against women who met her under this false identity.
Police accuse the young woman of rape and indecent acts. The suspicion is that the complainants' consent was obtained through fraud, as they believed they were in contact with a man. According to police, the suspect coerced some of the women into performing sexual acts during these interactions.
The case reached police on July 26. Several women in their 20s reported a similar pattern: an online connection with someone identifying as "Uriel Hazan". Police suspect this was a long-term pattern and are currently working to identify other potential victims.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted to the relationships and the use of a false identity, but unequivocally denies committing the sex offenses attributed to her.
Judge Guy Avnon, who reviewed the investigation materials, determined there is a basis for the suspicions. "The numerous investigation materials collected by the unit establish a reasonable suspicion that the suspect committed the offenses attributed to her," he ruled, while noting that these are currently only allegations.
The court granted the police request to extend her detention by four days, citing sexual danger and the risk of obstruction of justice. Despite her lack of a criminal record, military service, and cooperation with investigators, the judge deemed it impossible to release her to an alternative to detention at this stage.
Defense attorney Erez Bar Zvi argued there is a risk of "investigation contamination," claiming the complainants approached police only after the suspect was contacted by Haim Etgar's program, "The Impostors." The defense maintains that the suspect did not send explicit photos or videos.
Judge Avnon issued a middle-ground ruling: the suspect's real name remains under a publication ban, but the name "Uriel Hazan" is permitted for publication to allow other potential victims to come forward.
