A new development has emerged in the investigation into the disappearance of the Israeli mother and daughter in Vienna: Police are examining the possibility that the two were not abducted, but instead left voluntarily on Saturday morning.
According to information currently being examined, the mother and daughter remained at their accommodation through Friday and were in contact with family members. Their room had been booked through Saturday, and on Saturday morning they packed their belongings, checked out and left.
Their location was later traced to the area of a train station, but after that their phones could no longer be located. Contact with them has been lost ever since.
Following the developments, the investigation was transferred to Lahav 433, Israel Police's national crime and corruption investigation unit, on the instructions of the police commissioner. Investigators are now examining the circumstances of their departure and the possibility that this was not an abduction, as initially suspected.
Police are continuing to examine all possible lines of investigation, and at this stage it remains unclear what happened to the mother and daughter after they left.
Moshe Yahalomi, Mali's brother, told Hayom on Wednesday morning: "The trip was Liel's gift to Mali for her 50th birthday, which she celebrated last Thursday. Mali works as a manager at Bank of Jerusalem. Liel comes from a religious family, my sister is religious, and works for the Etz Male furniture company."
Yahalomi added: "The Foreign Ministry and the police are accompanying us and keeping us updated through specific contacts. The Modiin Municipality is also making extensive efforts to help in every area and is in direct contact with the family through Rivi, the head of the mayor's bureau. As a family, we have also brought in the Magen company to assist with the investigation through people it has on the ground."
As of Wednesday, Mali and Liel have been missing for five days and searches for them are continuing. The Foreign Ministry has established a situation room to handle the case, Austrian police have opened an investigation, and the family is in continuous contact with Israeli officials and with Israel's ambassador to Austria, David Roet, who is handling the case together with the Israeli Embassy staff.
