High-ranking police officer questioned over sex crimes suspected of improper conduct with six more women officers
Officer held under house arrest, unlikely to return to police force; initially investigated for sexual harrassment, assault of woman subordinate.
A high-ranking police official being investigated on allegations of sexual harassment and indecent assault of a woman junior officer is suspected of improper conduct regarding six more women officers, Ynet has learned.
The Police Investigations Department (PID) said earlier Monday that the senior police officer is under investigation on suspicion of sexually harassing and indecently assaulting a junior policewoman.
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An announcement by the PID states that "the officer was questioned on suspicion of sexually harassing a junior police officer in need in recent months, and of performing an indecent act, while taking advantage of his position of authority. We are also looking into other suspected crimes against junior women police officers. At the stage the investigation is ongoing."
The statement also said that "the suspect was also investigated on suspicion of obstruction of justice and destruction of evidence, an offense committed immediately after he was summoned by telephone for questioning by the head of the unit.
"It should be noted that the information that led to the investigation was passed to PID by a ranking police officer who had heard about the alleged harassment by the suspect and reported it - as required by his position. Following his questioning, the suspect was released to full house arrest for five days."
During questioning, the senior officer admitted that he had been in contact with the policewoman in the initial investigation.
The PID has expressed confidence that the officer in question will not return to work in the Israel Police in the future.
The case relates to offenses allegedly committed in recent months. The investigation itself was approved at the highest levels in the Justice Ministry, and Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein also authorized the investigation.
This is a further blow to the image of senior Israel Police officers, following a series of serious, embarrassing scandals among the institution's upper echelons.
Last weekend, it was reported that the head of the Judea and Samaria District, Commander Kobi Cohen, is retiring due to a PID investigation against him last week in which he admitted having an improper relationship with a policewoman under his command.
