Case against mohel suspected of causing baby's death reinforced after three doctors testify

The investigation into the death of a baby following a circumcision has taken a significant turn as three doctors have now testified, reinforcing the case against the mohel suspected of causing the tragedy.

The investigation has expanded to include four separate cases, with evidence linking the baby’s death to improper bandaging. Authorities are also investigating possible evidence tampering by the suspect during his house arrest.

In a related development, the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court has extended the house arrest of Moshe Drai, the 66-year-old mohel, for the fourth time.

The extension, which will last until April 30, is part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged negligent death of the baby.

According to police, Drai is now involved in four separate investigations. Alongside the case of the deceased baby, the investigations also encompass incidents from 2020, 2022, and 2023. One of these cases involves a civil lawsuit filed against Drai for damages. Law enforcement sources suggest that evidence in all these cases points to negligence on Drai’s part.

The investigation has uncovered that in three of the four cases, the central issue is negligence in bandaging after the circumcisions.

Police sources say that some of the infants were severely harmed, with some suffering amputations as a result of the procedure.

Furthermore, the police are looking into possible evidence tampering. A police representative informed the court that Drai himself reported that during his house arrest, a visitor spoke to Dr. Shemesh, the first doctor to treat the baby. This individual claimed that Dr. Shemesh believed Drai was not at fault.

“The suspect did not stop the conversation or prevent the contact, thereby causing tampering,” the police representative stated.

Several doctors involved in the baby’s treatment have provided testimony. Two of these doctors stated that the most probable cause of the baby’s death was a bacterial infection resulting from improper bandaging. Another doctor, a urologist, concluded that the necrosis in the baby’s genital area was caused by tight bandaging.

The police are awaiting an opinion from Dr. Chen Kugel, and investigators emphasize that a significant amount of evidence has already been gathered. “The evidentiary threshold is high,” they noted during the court hearing.