Elite unit detective accused of sexually harassing a colleague
A serious indictment against a detective from the Lahav unit has revealed a pattern of persistent sexual harassment toward a policewoman who served with him. When confronted, the defendant claimed the victim had 'misunderstood his words.'
A sexual joke following water spilled on a female detective's pants, repeated comments every time she held a water bottle, and sexual remarks during joint duty trips—these are some of the acts attributed to a detective who served in the Lahav unit, in an indictment filed against him for multiple counts of sexual harassment.
According to the indictment, the detective repeatedly directed comments of a sexual nature toward his colleague against her will. In one instance, after she asked him, "Why are you talking like that?", he claimed that she had misunderstood him.
The defendant, 46, served during the relevant period as a detective in the Lahav unit. The complainant also served as a detective, and they would occasionally go out on joint operational activities.
The first incident described in the indictment occurred when the team was driving to an operational activity. During the drive, the complainant drank water, and when the defendant braked, water spilled on her pants. According to the indictment, the defendant looked toward her genitals and said: "You're cumming like a sprinkler," and then laughed.
It is alleged that the incident was not a one-time occurrence. On numerous occasions, the defendant made sexual comments to the complainant against her will whenever he noticed her holding a water bottle. Among other things, it is alleged that he told her:
"Don't you cum on us here" and "Don't you spray on us here."
Another incident occurred during a trip where the complainant was driving. The defendant connected to the dating app Tinder on his phone, showed her a picture of a woman with a deep neckline, made a sexual comment about the woman's body, and asked the complainant how to say the phrase he used in Arabic.
The indictment also describes a case where, after noticing that glue from the phone mount had leaked, the defendant sexually harassed her while moving his hand in a motion simulating masturbation. When the complainant asked why he was speaking that way, he replied that she had misunderstood him.
The prosecution asserts that these acts constitute sexual harassment. The indictment claims the defendant repeatedly focused on the complainant's sexuality despite her clear lack of interest, treating her in a demeaning and humiliating manner. The detective is charged with multiple counts under the Law for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment.
