Israeli man indicted for allegedly torturing gambling debtor

Authorities in Israel have indicted a man who allegedly kidnapped and held against their will a person who owed them money related to a gambling debt, The Times of Israel originally reported. To extract the money, the alleged perpetrator resorted to torture. The man is identified as Muhammad Zoabi, and the case took place in Afula, when a co-conspirator supposedly approached the victim at a pizzeria and compelled him to enter a vehicle. Upon entering the vehicle, the gambler was deprived of his phone, and the trio sped off to a cabin where the victim claims he was held against their will and tortured. The torture was allegedly perpetrated with a hot poker, and the victim was burned multiple times. The pair supposedly told the victim that he could either figure out a way to settle his debt, or die. Eventually, the kidnappers returned the victim's phone, which he used to send a message to his wife, who tipped off the police. Authorities were able to locate the man quickly, but the perpetrators had escaped. The victim was found with multiple bruising and burning scars over his body, with Zoabi arrested only in late January.