Problems in rape probe lead to suspect's release to house arrest

Shagderi, who has consistently denied any links to the rape, was found to be telling the truth in polygraph tests.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
police car 248.88 (photo credit: Channel 10 )
police car 248.88
(photo credit: Channel 10 )
A police investigation into a suspect arrested on Monday for raping a woman in a Ra'anana orchard has run into difficulties, forcing police to release the man to house arrest. The 30-year-old woman was assaulted after leaving her workplace in Ra'anana on Sunday. She was dragged to a nearby orchard, where she was raped. After a five-hour ground and helicopter search of the area, police arrested 24-year-old Udi Shagderi for the rape, and convinced a Netanya Magistrate's Court to remand him in custody for two days on Monday. Since then, a number of problems have developed in the case, the most prominent of which is that Shagderi convincingly passed a lie-detector test. Tests conducted by a polygraph machine are not admissible in court but are used by police to help decide on the credibility of a suspect's account. Shagderi, who has consistently denied any links to the rape, was found to be telling the truth on some of the most vital questions he was asked, helping to refute suspicions held by police. Initially detectives had found Shagderi's account to be problematic. Shagderi claimed he was with a friend during the time of the rape. In addition, the rape victim described her attacker as having an Arab accent, while Shagderi lacks any such accent, according to his lawyer. Police also lack DNA or other physically substantive evidence linking Shagderi to the crime. Shagderi remains a suspect, but has dropped further down on the police's radar, while detective pursue other unrelated leads. In the meantime, Shagderi's lawyer, Eli Benaya, said the arrest of his client was "an embarrassment for the police," adding that his client was contemplating a lawsuit against the police. "My client is very hurt by the arrests and the suspicions against him. He was dubbed a 'rapist' during his interrogation despite his denials," Benaya said.a