Mental patient Eliyahu Fahima considered both violent and dangerous.
By REBECCA ANNA STOILhandcuffs 88(photo credit: Courtesy)
The suspense surrounding the escape of a dangerous mental patient from custody Wednesday ended Saturday evening when Eliyahu Fahima was apprehended by police near Tiberias.
Fahima, 46, had escaped Wednesday from medical staff custody after being brought from the Sha'ar Menashe Mental Hospital in Hadera to the Haifa District Court for a hearing regarding family issues. After the hearing, Fahima managed to evade the medical guards who had accompanied him.
Police spread a dragnet throughout the weekend, concentrating on Jerusalem and the northern part of the country, while warning the public to be on the lookout for Fahima, considered to be both violent and dangerous.
Fahima was indicted in 2002 for a Jerusalem murder, but due to his mental condition, was determined to be psychologically unfit to stand trial.
Fahima was first identified at his son's house, but departed the house in a vehicle together with a number of family members including his sister, her husband and an additional juvenile whom police described as unrelated to the incident.
Police on the scene said that Fahima was sitting in the vehicle's back seat, and seemed surprised at the arrest. He had dyed his blond hair dark in order to avoid identification.
He was arrested in the vehicle, and was returned to the Sha'ar Menashe Mental Hospital, where he was questioned and readmitted.