"We were drunk, it lasted seconds": The defense line of the deputy mayor of Rishon LeZion

The deputy mayor of Rishon LeZion is suspected of sexual offenses. His defense attorney does not deny contact but claims it was a one-time, consensual incident lasting seconds, with both parties drunk. Meanwhile, he accuses the complainant's husband, who is subordinate to him at the municipality, of a 'conspiracy'. A municipal source says the suspicions are not surprising, as there were previous complaints.

The deputy mayor of Rishon LeZion is suspected of sexual offenses, and through his defense attorney he presents a defense line: he does not deny that there was contact between him and an employee, but claims it was a one-time, brief incident that lasted 'a few seconds', occurred with consent, and both parties were drunk. According to this version, the incident took place in the suspect's office. The attorney calls the complaint a 'conspiracy' and accuses the complainant's husband, who is subordinate to the suspect at the municipality, of trying to harm him. In contrast, a municipal source told Maariv that the suspicions are not surprising, and that there were known incidents, but victims feared to complain. It was also claimed that in the past, complaints were received that the suspect, in a senior role where he provided services to residents, allegedly invited some of the complainants to a restaurant outside the city as part of his offer to handle their affairs. The source added that 'everyone in the municipality knew', and that women who sought services claimed harassment, but nothing was done at the municipality.