Manager Gets Light Sentence for Sexual Assault of Employee

A 39-year-old manager for a well-known food chain in southern Israel has been sentenced to eight months of community service for sexually assaulting a 25-year-old employee. The man, a father of two, was convicted of sodomy and indecent acts, exploiting his position of authority over the younger woman. The incident occurred in August 2022 when the manager asked the employee to accompany him on a drive to stock a store in Rishon Lezion. During the trip, he began making sexually suggestive remarks and touching her. When she objected, stating it was inappropriate given his marital status and her expectations of him as a manager, he responded, "Think we're friends and this is your one-night stand." Despite her resistance, he continued to touch and kiss her. After they arrived at a parking lot, he forcibly engaged in sexual activity with her while his pants were down, culminating in his own sexual gratification beside her. Following the assault, the employee was reportedly made to complete her shift before returning home and filing a police report. In a separate civil lawsuit, the employee was awarded 130,000 shekels in damages. The prosecution explained that the plea deal was accepted due to evidentiary challenges and with the victim's consent. Judge Zvi Forer of the Ashkelon Magistrate's Court approved the deal, noting his reservations about the leniency of the sentence but deeming the prosecution's considerations reasonable. In addition to community service, the manager received an eight-month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay 9,000 shekels in criminal compensation.