Deputy mayor suspected of sex offenses to be released after confrontation: defense version
After five days in custody, a decision is expected today on whether the deputy mayor of Rishon LeZion, suspected of sex offenses against a municipal secretary, will be released to house arrest. During a confrontation, he claimed both parties were intoxicated and the incident lasted seconds. The complainant maintains there was no consent.
The deputy mayor of Rishon LeZion, suspected of sex offenses against a municipal secretary, is expected to be released today, Monday, following five days in custody. Investigators from the fraud unit of the Central District Police have yet to decide whether to release him to house arrest or settle for distancing him from his municipal duties. The hearing regarding release conditions is scheduled for the afternoon.
A confrontation between the suspect and the complainant was held yesterday. According to the allegations, the deputy mayor committed sex offenses against her in two separate incidents occurring over a year ago.
The deputy mayor's defense attorneys, Nir Zano and Israel Klein, argued during the hearing:
"This is an incident between two adults."
The suspect explained that both parties were intoxicated after consuming alcohol and that the "incident" lasted only a few seconds. The complainant responded by asserting that there was no consent on her part.
Defense attorneys claim the complaint is an act of revenge by employees in the department managed by the deputy mayor. They allege the tension arose after he demanded that staff adhere to labor laws, specifically requiring them to clock in using fingerprints and prohibiting them from "disappearing" from their posts. Recently, anonymous messages alleging sexual misconduct were circulated in municipal employee WhatsApp groups.
Two weeks ago, the deputy mayor filed a complaint with the Rishon LeZion police regarding attempts to blackmail him. This complaint has also been transferred to the Central District Police fraud unit for investigation.
