Three violent offenders escape from mental hospital

Three violent criminals under psychiatric observation escaped from a mental health institution in Bat Yam over the weekend, authorities said on Sunday.

Each of the three men — Adam Rov, Alex Katchikov and Roman Lev — had been arrested separately and then transferred to the Abarbanel Mental Health Clinic in the coastal town of Bat Yam for treatment and observation.

Katchikov and Rov were held on domestic abuse charges, and Lev, a known narcotics addict, was arrested for stabbing a friend during an altercation in Tel Aviv.

According to a Maariv report, the trio fled “without a trace” and warrants were issued for their arrest. The exact circumstances of their escape were unknown.

It is a common practice in some criminal cases to have suspects transferred to a mental health facility for observation if psychiatric issues are suspected to have contributed to their crime.

Police said they were investigating the circumstances of the incident. “The weekend escape requires a comprehensive investigation of the practice of holding detainees at Abarbanel Hospital, which will necessitate a review of the security arrangements in place,” they said.