Man arrested for allegedly raping teen stepdaughter with mother’s consent

A man in his 40s from the central town of Ramle was arrested for allegedly repeatedly raping his young stepdaughter with her mother’s approval, police said Sunday.

The woman, also in her 40s, was also detained over the alleged sexual abuse, which occurred over a period of several years and was apparently aimed at securing public housing.

According to police, the couple tracked the 13-year-old’s menstrual cycle in order to get her pregnant.

Police said they launched an investigation after receiving a report from welfare authorities. The Walla news site said the case reached welfare officials through the girl’s school counselor, after she told her friends about being raped, and they then persuaded her to tell the counselor.

Walla said the girl’s mental condition was “grave,” and that she was now hospitalized at a mental health institution.

Police said its investigation found that the girl’s stepfather raped his stepdaughter in recent years, “with the approval of the mother, who knew what was happening and agreed to commit the offenses against her daughter.”

According to police, the couple wished to get the young girl pregnant “in order for her to ‘receive’ an apartment from the authorities.”

Walla said the couple has no children together, but the girl’s mother has two other daughters, who were not thought to have been abused by the stepfather.

The pair were arrested last week, and remain in custody pending hearings this week.