Third Nova Sound Thief Gets 28 Months in Prison
A court in Beersheba sentenced a man who helped steal audio gear from a massacre site two days after the October 7 attack.
By Ethan Cooper ·
San Lucian Tevel will spend 28 months in prison for his role in stealing two high-value sound systems from the Nova music festival site. The Beersheba Magistrate’s Court delivered the verdict on Sunday. The theft occurred just two days after the Hamas-led attack that killed many attendees and workers at the festival three years ago.
The stolen equipment belonged to a company co-owned by Matan Lior and Amitai Rahum. Lior was murdered at the festival after assisting with evacuations under fire. Judge Amir Doron fined Tevel NIS 10,000. He also ordered Tevel to pay NIS 20,000 in compensation to Lior’s parents and NIS 10,000 to Rahum. The court forfeited Tevel’s vehicle, which was used in the crimes. Time he already spent in detention will be deducted from his prison term.
Tevel pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding aggravated theft under an amended indictment. His sentencing follows that of the other two men involved in the case. Ram Shahin and Daniel Hasson received their sentences on October 7, the third anniversary of the attack. Shahin was sentenced to seven years in prison. Hasson received a sentence of three years and four months.
Judge Doron found that Tevel provided essential logistical support for the criminal plan. He rented a trailer, lent his vehicle to Shahin, and connected the participants. The judge noted that Tevel knew the circumstances surrounding the thefts. Doron stated that Tevel’s active assistance bordered on full participation in the offenses.
The judge placed Tevel’s sentence at the bottom of the 28 to 36 month range. This decision accounted for Tevel’s guilty plea and his post-traumatic stress disorder. Doron ruled that the condition did not justify a sentence below that range. Tevel also received suspended prison terms of 12 months and six months. These apply if he commits specified property or fraud offenses within three years of his release.
Ofer Lior, the father of the murdered co-owner, released a statement on Sunday. He said that behind every hearing and postponement is a bereaved family forced to confront the theft of their son’s property. He added that nothing will bring Matan back and that the family fought to hold those responsible accountable. The Nova Tribe Community Association stated that it has stood with the Lior family to make Matan’s voice heard and demand justice.
Shahin, described by the court as the driving force behind the scheme, was fined NIS 60,000. He must pay NIS 75,000 to Lior’s parents and NIS 25,000 to Rahum. The court found that Shahin arranged for a truck driver to collect the first system while claiming he was retrieving equipment for a missing friend. After police seized the truck following a tracking alert, Shahin falsely presented himself as Lior’s business partner to get the truck released. The second system was then taken from the site.
Hasson pleaded guilty after witnesses testified. He was fined NIS 30,000 and ordered to pay NIS 40,000 to Lior’s parents and NIS 15,000 to Rahum. The court found his role was more limited than Shahin’s. He tried to sell the stolen equipment while falsely claiming ownership. The court rejected Shahin’s argument that he intended to safeguard and return the gear, citing his repeated acts of deception.
