Suspected of rape - Mayor Moti Malka
Photo: Moti Kimchi
Mayor suspected of rape stood by Katsav
During former president's rape trial, the Kiryat Malachi mayor said he hoped Katsav would be proven innocent
Residents of the city of Kiryat Malachi may have been feeling a sense of déjà-vu on Wednesday as six months after former President Moshe Katsav,
a local, was sent to prison for seven years on rape charges, their current mayor, Moti Malka
was also under suspicion of serious sexual offences. The offences include rape, assault and sexual extortion.
The Katsav and Malka families did not have the warmest relationship mainly because Malka deposed Leor Katsav, the former president's brother from his position of mayor. Nonetheless, the current mayor did not hesitate to state on camera that he hoped Katsav would be proven innocent.
Related stories:
"I'm not here to give legitimization to these actions if there were any," he said at the time. "I'm more concerned with the fate of the State of Israel and the honor of the institution of president. I am also concerned for the residents of Kiryat Malachi, who so loved and esteemed him (the president)."
Malka has had his remand extended for eight days on Wednesday after being arrested on suspicion of committing a series of sexual crimes against a female employee of the municipality.
Malka is accused of raping, sexually harassing and sodomizing the woman. He is also suspected of extorting a city council member who accepted bribes from a contractor who provides services for the municipality.
Just over a month ago Malka threw harsh accusations at another council member, Yossi Hadad and told him: "I saved you from rape you piece of garbage. Rape. Your raped someone," Malka shouted at Hadad who has not been implicated in the current investigation.
Malka is not the only one of Katsav's former colleagues to find himself in Katsav's situation, Yosef Sulimani, a Kiryat Malachi council member is also suspected of sexual offenses.
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
