Avior Sasson, the 17-year-old primary suspect in the fatal stabbing of 19-year-old Benayahu Razi, has been arrested after a two-week manhunt, Israel Police confirmed on Tuesday.
An Israel Prison Service officer was also arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of helping obstruct the investigation into Razi’s murder in Jerusalem, police and the IPS announced.
The 34-year-old officer from Hod Hasharon is suspected of maintaining a personal relationship with an inmate held at the central Israel prison where she serves.
Police suspect that the two worked together to obstruct the investigation and assist Sasson while authorities searched for him. Reports identified the inmate as Sasson’s brother.
Israel Police made arrests in connection with Razi murder last week
Additionally, Israel Police made two arrests on Wednesday in connection with Razi’s murder. The two suspects were not named at the time. One is a 16-year-old girl, and the other is an 18-year-old boy from the city of Elad.
An Israel Prison Service officer was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of helping obstruct the investigation into the murder of 19-year-old Benayahu Razi in Jerusalem earlier this month, police and the IPS announced.
The 34-year-old officer from Hod Hasharon is suspected of maintaining a personal relationship with an inmate held at the central Israel prison where she serves.
The inmate is a relative of 17-year-old Avior Sasson, the central suspect in the murder investigation. Police suspect that the two worked together to obstruct the investigation and assist Sasson while authorities searched for him. Reports identified the inmate as Sasson’s brother.
Investigators suspect that the inmate used the officer’s cellphone to help Sasson hide and evade police. The extent of the alleged assistance and whether the phone was used to pass instructions, information, or other assistance to Sasson are still under investigation.
Investigation opened following suspicions on officer's conduct
The covert investigation was opened after IPS intelligence officials received information that raised suspicions about the officer’s conduct and passed it to the police, according to the joint announcement.
The officer was arrested on suspicion of obstruction of justice and breach of trust. She was taken for questioning, after which investigators will decide whether to bring her before a court to request an extension of her detention.
Razi was stabbed to death on July 11 in a short-term rental apartment in Jerusalem’s Nachlaot neighborhood. A friend who was with him was lightly wounded and escaped from the apartment. Several suspects have since been arrested over alleged roles in arranging the meeting, carrying out the attack, and helping those involved flee.
Police took the unusual step last week of publicly releasing Sasson’s name and photograph despite his being a minor, asking for the public’s help in locating him.
Sasson, a Jerusalem resident, was reportedly seen fleeing the murder scene wearing a white shirt and black trousers. Police had warned that anyone assisting him could be investigated for aiding an offender after the fact, an offense punishable by up to 3 years in prison.
Sarah Ben-Nun and Maya Zanger-Nadis contributed to this report.