Can Mali and Liel simply disappear? The legal questions behind the right to vanish
After the mother and daughter were found safe in Argentina, their case raises questions about police powers, adult privacy, debt and when a disappearance becomes a criminal matter
The search for missing mother and daughter Mali and Liel Yahalomi led to a wave of rumors and speculation. Upon their discovery in Buenos Aires, they were questioned and released without suspicion of committing a crime. This raises questions about the authority of law enforcement when someone decides to simply vanish from public view, especially if the disappearance is connected to financial issues. The role of the Israeli police and international agencies like Interpol in such cases is complex.
The Israeli Police investigates reports of missing persons, assessing risk and determining steps based on the individual's vulnerability or psychiatric condition. For adults, an investigation can be opened after a family reports the disappearance. Interpol facilitates international cooperation in locating missing persons, with each member country having a National Central Bureau to connect domestic police with foreign law enforcement authorities.
When Liel and Mali were found in Argentina, their location was relayed through Interpol, and they were questioned by Israeli and Argentine authorities without any suspicion of criminal activity.
If there is suspicion of a crime, the investigation would be transferred to Israel Police's national unit, Lahav 433, which handles major organized crime and complex investigations. However, in the Yahalomi case, authorities found no grounds for criminal suspicion. An arrest warrant or international arrest warrant would be required to restrict the freedom of an individual, and in this case, the Israeli police officer could only speak with the women voluntarily.
Authorities can search for an adult if there are concerns for their safety. Once the person is deemed safe and voluntarily disappeared, the state cannot force them to return to their family. Debt alone typically does not provide grounds for arrest, and creditors have other legal avenues. If evidence of criminal conduct emerges, the legal picture changes.
Written by urgent.news from Ynetnews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
