Criminal9/11/2026

Court Allows Publication of Name of Suspect in Kidnapping of 10-Year-Old Yahli Sofer

The Petah Tikva Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of Yigal Buskila, a 19-year-old from Jerusalem, and allowed his name to be published. He is suspected of kidnapping 10-year-old Yahli Sofer, as well as in additional cases involving children; Buskila himself denies the kidnapping.

Key facts

•Suspect: Yigal Buskila, 19
•Court: Petah Tikva Magistrate’s Court
•Judge: Oren Boaz
•Victim: Yahli Sofer, 10
•The case number and exact date were not specified
•No sums or names of statutes were specified

What Happened

According to the police account, Buskila led Yahli Sofer from Petah Tikva to Bnei Brak. At night, a Bnei Brak resident spotted the suspect with the child and alerted the police. During questioning, Buskila claimed that he encountered a lost child on the street and tried to help him return home.

The Court’s Decision

The suspect’s detention was extended by the Petah Tikva Magistrate’s Court. Judge Oren Boaz also allowed his name to be published. The case number, the exact date of the decision, the duration of the detention extension, and the statutory provisions on which it was based were not specified in the source.

Police and Defense Claims

A police representative said that the child subsequently provided investigators with new information that, in the police’s assessment, strengthens the suspicion. It was alleged that the suspect led the child to a shelter, after which the child fled and Buskila chased him. The suspect’s attorneys argued during the hearings that he has an intellectual disability; the source does not report any medical or judicial confirmation of this claim.

Additional Cases Under Investigation

After Yahli’s story was published, parents of additional children contacted the police and claimed that they had identified the suspect. According to the police representative, one case involves harassment and threats, and another involves a knife and threats; a case in Hadera involving two girls was also mentioned. The investigation’s final conclusions and the decision on whether to file an indictment are not provided in the source.

What this means for you

The court’s authorization means that the suspect’s name may now be published, but it does not constitute a finding that he is guilty. The extension of detention is also not a substitute for a conviction: the circumstances presented by the police must still be examined as part of the investigation and in possible legal proceedings.

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Case analysis based on court rulings