Police say no link between Haymanut Kasau’s case and suspect arrested this month — report

Casting doubt on reports of a breakthrough in the investigation into Haymanut Kasau’s 2024 disappearance, police reportedly say that they have not found a link between her case and the man suspected of trying to kidnap another Ethiopian-Israeli girl in Beersheba earlier this month.

A police representative told the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court that the suspicion of a connection between the suspect and the case of Kasau — who went missing nearly two years ago from a Safed absorption center — has been ruled out, Hebrew outlets report.

Nevertheless, the suspicions against the man in connection to the Beersheba case are said to have grown stronger.

The 63-year-old is believed to have tried to kidnap a young girl from her home while her parents were away, and is being probed for alleged assault and indecent acts. His remand was extended by another three days today.

The suspect’s victim had lived in the same Safed absorption center that Kasau had gone missing from until earlier this year. She told Haaretz that her would-be kidnapper was a neighbor and friend of her parents in Safed, before he also moved south to Beersheba.

The girl, whose identity has been kept private, recounted the alleged kidnapping attempt earlier this month. The man entered the apartment and sat on the couch, at which point he touched and hugged her, and grabbed her hand, she said.

Before he could continue, the girl said, she opened the door, ran, and screamed, alerting neighbors who then called the police.