Smiling and waving to his family: Chaim Rotter expected to be released to house arrest next week

The Tel Aviv District Court held another hearing this morning in the case of Chaim Rotter, former chairman of the 'Hashomerim' organization in Bnei Brak, who is accused of serious sexual offenses against four complainants. At the end of the hearing, Rotter is expected to be released on Monday, August 17, to house arrest at his family's home in Jerusalem, under the supervision of five supervisors. Three of the supervisors are expected to appear in court that day to complete the procedure, after which the court is expected to order his release. However, the release may still be delayed if the prosecution requests a stay of execution and appeals once again to the Supreme Court.

The Tel Aviv District Court held another hearing this morning (Thursday) in the case of Chaim Rotter, former chairman of the 'Hashomerim' organization in Bnei Brak, who is accused of serious sexual offenses against four complainants. At the end of the hearing, Rotter is expected to be released on Monday, August 17, to house arrest at his family's home in Jerusalem, under the supervision of five supervisors - as reported by Walla. Three of the supervisors are expected to appear in court that day to complete the procedure, after which the court is expected to order his release. However, the release may still be delayed if the prosecution requests a stay of execution and appeals once again to the Supreme Court. The prosecution declined to comment on whether they intend to do so. The hearing examined the detention alternative proposed for Rotter, according to which he would remain under house arrest at his family's home in Jerusalem under supervision. During the hearing, the prosecution objected to one of the proposed supervisors, claiming that his acquaintance with Rotter was superficial. In contrast, the court noted that the proposed supervision arrangement includes five supervisors, including Rotter's brother. So far, the court has approved two of the five proposed supervisors. The three additional supervisors are expected to appear next Monday to sign and approve the supervision. Therefore, the continuation of the hearing was postponed to that date, to complete the necessary procedure for Rotter's release to house arrest. Rotter's family members arrived at the courtroom this morning to support him. Rotter himself was not physically brought to court and participated in the hearing via video conference. During the hearing, he appeared smiling, waved to his family, and prayed before the judge. The judge ordered that by the next hearing, an opinion be submitted regarding the place where Rotter is to stay and the proposed supervision arrangement. He also ruled that his release could be examined based on the material and data presented to him, without the need for a probation service report. The issue of Rotter's release already reached the Supreme Court in July, after the prosecution appealed the district court's decision to release him to a detention alternative. The Supreme Court原则上 approved the possibility of releasing him to house arrest but required changes to the conditions of the alternative, including replacing the supervisors and ensuring that no minors would be present at the place where he would stay. Following these demands, Rotter remained in custody until an alternative meeting the set conditions was formulated. Now, a new alternative has been presented to the court, including five supervisors. If the three remaining supervisors are approved on Monday, the court is expected to order Rotter's release to house arrest. An indictment was filed against Rotter in July, including four counts of serious sexual offenses against four complainants, including one who was a 15-year-old minor at the time of the offenses. The prosecution attributes to him, among other things, offenses of rape and indecent acts. In parallel, additional complaints have been filed against him recently, and investigation completions are being conducted. According to the indictment, Rotter exploited his status and position in the 'Hashomerim' association, which he headed for about 15 years, to commit sexual offenses against the complainants between 2009 and 2024. In his role, he managed the association's activities, recruited volunteers, patrolled the streets of Bnei Brak, and maintained ongoing contact with the city's police station. According to the prosecution, he used the status and power he had gained as a well-known public figure in the city to commit the offenses. The investigation against Rotter was opened in June 2025 following complaints filed against him. He was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport upon his return to Israel, and during the detention proceedings, the court determined that there was reasonable suspicion against him and even noted that he posed a 'high danger'. Now, after the indictment was filed and after the Supreme Court has already outlined the conditions for the detention alternative, the question of his release is expected to reach a decision point next Monday.