The suspect in court
Photo: Avi Cohen
Court: Evidence links army chief's ex-bodyguard to attempted rape case
IDF officer suspected of attempted rape remanded for additional six days after judge says police has unequivocal evidence implicating him
Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court Justice Avihai Doron ruled Tuesday that there was sufficient evidence to link the VIP Protection Unit captain suspected of attempting to rape a 22-year-old woman to the case.
The officer, a former member of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi's protection unit, was subsequently remanded for an additional six days.
"There is unequivocal evidence connecting him to the case, which also refutes his initial testimony," said Justice Doron.
Meanwhile, the police decided to change the indictment against the officer to include sodomy, attempted rape and assault charges. The police claim to have an eyewitness to the entire act.
The officer was arrested for allegedly trying to rape the woman shortly after leaving his own bachelor party. The police later held a photo lineup but the woman failed to identify her attacker.
Nevertheless, the woman did identify the suspect as the man who attacked her following a police confrontation between them.
