Tel Aviv Man Arrested for Rape and Sodomy Following DNA Match Near Central Bus Station
A 29-year-old undocumented resident was arrested in Tel Aviv for suspected rape and sodomy near the Central Bus Station following DNA evidence matching. He denies the charges.
A 29-year-old undocumented resident of Tel Aviv has been arrested on suspicion of rape and sodomy following DNA evidence obtained during a police investigation near the city's Central Bus Station. The suspect denies the allegations and is also being investigated for suspected involvement in a separate robbery earlier this week.
The investigation began about two months ago after a complainant reported to police that a man and a woman led him to the Central Bus Station area after allegedly stealing his mobile phone. According to the victim, the two made him smoke an unidentified substance, which caused him to lose his senses.
The complainant stated that he later found himself in a side room near the station, where the suspect allegedly attempted to commit a sexual assault and stripped off his trousers before committing a sex offense. The woman accompanying the suspect, described as a transgender individual, was located and questioned on suspicion of assisting in the phone theft.
The victim was referred for a medical examination, and about ten days ago, forensic findings identified semen DNA matching the suspect, leading to his arrest.
During a remand hearing at the Tel Aviv Magistrates' Court, police representatives stated that the victim followed the suspects after his phone was taken, leading to the alleged offenses of rape, sodomy, and illegal stay in Israel. Police noted there was no prior acquaintance between the victim and the suspect, and the stolen phone was eventually returned to the complainant.
The defense attorney questioned the nature of the genetic evidence, while police confirmed it was a preliminary report identifying DNA from the victim's underwear. The defense raised the possibility of consensual sexual contact and questioned why investigators did not disclose the complainant's identity to the suspect. Police rejected the claim of consent.
Concurrently, police suspect the man of involvement in an armed robbery earlier this week in which two suspects threatened a victim with a knife and stole a phone and wallet. The suspect denies this allegation as well, with his defense arguing that surveillance footage shown to him lacks concrete evidentiary links. Police noted the suspect has a prior conviction from April 2025 for illegal presence and other offenses.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Shaul Avinor extended the suspect's remand by four days with the consent of the defense.
