Man murders wife in Petah Tikva, calls police to report slaying

Police arrest Gabriel Kesimov at couple’s apartment, take 37-year-old into custody on suspicion of murdering 30-year-old Irina Bongart.

By BEN HARTMAN
Updated: SEPTEMBER 13, 2015 03:29
Handcuffs [Illustrative] (photo credit: INIMAGE)
Handcuffs [Illustrative]
(photo credit: INIMAGE)
A Petah Tikva husband was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife on Friday in front of their young son. He then called the police to report that he had hurt her and to send help.
Gabriel Kesimov, 37, was arrested at the couple’s apartment on suspicion of murdering 30-year-old Irina Bongart. The couple’s five-yearold son was taken under the care of social workers. He is believed to have witnessed the act.
Petah Tikva police chief Dep.-Ch. Tal Pikerevitch said that a call came in to the police emergency line around 10 a.m. by a man saying that he’d “hurt her” and to send help. When officers arrived, they found the victim lying dead on the floor and took Kesimov into custody, Pikerevitch said.
He added that the couple is not known to police or to the social services for any previous incidents of domestic violence.
At a hearing Friday afternoon, Kesimov was remanded for 10 days.
His attorney, Avi Cohen, told reporters that his client said he does not remember anything from the incident and that he had been drunk at the time. He also told him that he had been abused by Bongart for some time.
Cohen asked for his client to be taken for a psychiatric evaluation.


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