Rishon LeZion Deputy Mayor Lifts Gag Order Amid Sex Offense Probe
Rishon LeZion Deputy Mayor Avi Chaim has waived his gag order in an ongoing sex offense investigation involving a municipal worker, asserting his total innocence.
Avi Chaim, the Deputy Mayor of Rishon LeZion who has been investigated on suspicion of committing sex offenses against a municipal employee, has waived his right to a gag order. On Tuesday, his defense attorney, Ofer Almog, announced that the official decided to drop the anonymity protection ahead of a scheduled Rishon LeZion Magistrates' Court hearing.
"He firmly believes in his innocence and maintains that this is a false complaint," attorney Almog stated. "He feels no need to hide behind a publication ban and therefore chose to waive it. The suspect trusts law enforcement authorities to uncover the truth." According to the allegations, the incidents took place several years ago in his office involving a secretary who worked for another senior official at the municipality.
The case first came to light in August, prompting authorities to bar Chaim from the municipal building for 30 days, after which he returned to work. The police investigation file has now been transferred to the State Attorney's Office, where prosecutors face a legal situation defined as word against word. Chaim maintains that all interactions were consensual, while the complainant contends she was unable to resist the senior municipal official.
