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Police sergeant major accused of sexual felonies
Kobi Sapir is suspected of pressuring 17-year-old girl to have sex with him, then threatening her with his handgun; the police officer denies the charges, saying the relations had been consensual.
Police officer Sgt. Maj. Kobi Sapir is suspected of prohibited consensual sexual activity and extortion and intimidation of a 17-year-old girl, the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court cleared for publication on Thursday.
Sapir, 40, was arrested on Monday after the girl, who has been staying in an institution for at risk girls, filed a complaint against him at the police’s Internal Affairs Department. She told police that she met Sapir when he was stationed at the Shekhunot police station in Tel Aviv, where he serves as the dispatcher. He later got in contact with her, they met and had sex.
Sapir is suspected of using sensitive information about the girl that he was exposed to in his capacity as a dispatcher, and taking advantage of her vulnerable mental state to pressure her to sleep with him.
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The complaintant also told police that when she told Sapir that she was going to file a complaint against him, he pointed his pistol at her and threatened her.
Initially Sapir was suspected of rape, but the charge was later lowered to prohibited consensual sexual activity. He has been released to house arrest until next Friday.
Since the allegations were made public, another woman came forward, saying Sapir had taken advantage of his position in order to have sex with her, but she has not filed an official complaint.
Sapir claims the sexual relations with the two women were consensual, and denies that he pressured or threatened them. His attorneys noted Sapir has no criminal record and has been in the police force for over 15 years. The divorced father of three used to command a motorcycle unit, but due to injury he was recently given a non-operational role.
Sapir's defense lawyers also claimed that the complainants are both legally adults, so the relations Sapir had with them are permitted by law. They further argued that the 17-year-old complainant is suffering from mental issues, is not reliable and is known to make complaints against people.
The court noted that based on the investigation materials and Sapir's version of events, at the very least there is a reasonable suspicion for breach of trust.
