Indictments Expected in Two Separate Minor Sexual Abuse Cases

A serious indictment is expected to be filed in the coming days against a 14-year-old minor suspected of sexually assaulting a young girl, blackmailing her, and distributing footage of the acts to his friends. The case began in August when the Bat Yam Police received a report about a minor being blackmailed with threats demanding she perform sexual acts with the boy, accompanied by threats that he would harm her if she refused. Following the complaint, the youth division launched an investigation. According to the suspicion, the minor formed a connection with the victim on TikTok, exploited her, and threatened her. In addition, the suspect documented the sexual assault and distributed the video to his friends. With the transition to the public phase of the investigation, the minor was arrested and his detention was extended. Last week, on September 1, he was released to house arrest. Meanwhile, the State Attorney's Office filed an indictment today in the Haifa District Court against a Tiberias resident in his 50s who committed numerous severe sexual offenses against two 9-year-old siblings about two decades ago. The defendant is charged with sodomy of a minor, indecent acts with minors, causing indecent acts to a minor, and false imprisonment. In addition, he harmed their sister several years later outside the borders of Israel. According to the indictment filed by Attorney Ilana Pikus Roitblat from the Haifa District Attorney's Office, the defendant established a very close relationship with the siblings' mother, gained her trust, and falsely presented himself as a therapeutic professional. The indictment states that taking advantage of the close relationship with the mother, the trust placed in him, and the young age of the siblings, the defendant committed various sexual offenses against them over a long period and with high frequency. In some cases, he prevented the brother from leaving the premises and instructed him to keep the acts a secret.