No Indictment: Police Internal Affairs Recommends Disciplinary Action Against Eyal Shahar

The Police Internal Affairs Department (Mahash) has closed the criminal case against Deputy Chief Superintendent Eyal Shahar, commander of the Haifa police station, and recommended disciplinary proceedings. The investigation dealt with suspicions of an indecent act against a policewoman who was subordinate to him, as well as suspicion of breach of trust due to a sexual relationship he allegedly conducted with another policewoman under his command. At the end of the investigation, it was determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish a reasonable chance of conviction, and that the conduct did not cross the criminal threshold. However, a recommendation was transferred to the police disciplinary department to put him on trial. Shahar was detained for questioning after information about the relationship reached senior police ranks, and a covert investigation was opened that became overt. At the end of his questioning, he was released under restrictive conditions, including a 12-day suspension from the Haifa police station and a complete ban on contacting subordinates from the station.