Attorney Rali Gutman
צילום: אחיה ראב"ד
Court sentences youth center director to jail for indecent acts
Michael Hanan, who managed the Rutenberg Institute in Haifa, was convicted of sodomizing 15-year-old boy, committing series of indecent acts. 'I only wanted to encourage the boys,' he said during trial
The Haifa Magistrates Court sentenced a 48-year-old man to 23 months in prison for committing indecent acts against male teens at the youth center he managed.
Michael Hanan, who was convicted of sodomy and four counts of sexual assault, was also ordered to pay each of the victims $2,500 in compensation. He also received a 13-month suspended sentence.
In the summer of 2002, Hanan, who was then director of the Rutenberg Institute in Haifa, sodomized a 15-year-old boy, who had apparently cooperated with him, and committed a series of indecent acts.
Following a complaint that was filed on the matter it was revealed that the accused committed indecent acts against three other boys between 1993 and 1999. Among other things, Hanan took naked photos of one of the teens and fondled the others.
In his defense Hanan claimed that the intimate contact was initiated by the teens and had nothing to do with sexual gratification.
Attorney Rali Gutman, the prosecutor in the case, said during the trial that the accused took advantage of his authority and influence on the teens to commit the illicit sexual acts over a long period of time.
Throughout the trial, even after his conviction, Hanan continued to claim that his actions were aimed only at "giving the boys warmth and encouragement".
The judge said in her ruling that "even today, the accused has yet to understand the severity of his actions and has not drawn the necessary lessons.
"He still believes his actions were carried out for the benefit of the students," she said.
