Court extends detention of soldier suspected of committing sexual offenses against minors

A court on Monday extended the detention of a 20-year-old active-duty soldier from Bat Yam suspected of committing sexual offenses against minors until Thursday. The soldier allegedly posed online as a 16-year-old boy to contact girls aged 14 and 15. Israel Police suspect that he initially contacted them on TikTok before moving the conversations to WhatsApp, where he persuaded them to send him revealing photographs. He allegedly later began extorting and threatening them. The suspect is accused of sexual offenses against minors, sexual extortion, sexual harassment, and making threats. A court issued an arrest warrant on August 25, and Bat Yam police later arrested him. Following a court hearing, his detention was extended until Thursday, September 10. A court on Monday released Erez Aviad Cohen, a 37-year-old Holon resident suspected of committing sexual offenses against minors, in a reversal that came one day after police said the evidence against him had strengthened. Police had also told the court that Cohen was suspected of obstructing the investigation. However, Cohen was released from custody at Abu Kabir after investigators reviewed the evidence and questioned him on Monday morning, Walla reported.