Prosecutors Close Case Against Musician Yuval Vilner Accused of Rape

Four years after the initial complaint, Israeli prosecutors have decided to close the criminal cases against musician Yuval Vilner, 38, who was suspected of raping singer Shi Li Atari and sexually assaulting Naama Shahar. The decision was made due to insufficient evidence to file charges.

The investigation began approximately four years ago when Shi Li Atari filed a formal complaint with Israeli police. She alleged that Vilner raped her in 2011 while they were students at the Rimon School of Music. Later, as the case gained public attention, Shahar also filed a complaint with police, accusing Vilner of sexual assault.

Vilner's attorney, Moshe Weiss, welcomed the decision, stating, "There is only one truth, and the truth has come to light." Atari, however, previously shared her difficult experience after Vilner's name was cleared for publication, writing, "For 15 years I did not have the basic right to say Yuval Vilner's name out loud. While he continued his life, I was the one who lived as if his name was dynamite."