Deputy Mayor Suspected of Sex Crimes Now Faces Threat Allegations

The deputy mayor of Rishon LeZion, who is under investigation for alleged sexual offenses against a municipal employee, was summoned for further questioning by police regarding a new suspicion: threatening the complainant. The new suspicion arose after a confrontation between the two during the investigation, where the deputy mayor allegedly mentioned possessing WhatsApp messages from the complainant and the possibility of revealing them. An investigator present at the confrontation reportedly believed this constituted an attempt to threaten her, leading to the new line of inquiry and his questioning under caution.

The deputy mayor denies the threat allegations, asserting that his remarks were made out of genuine distress over what he claims are false accusations. He maintains that his relationship with the complainant was consensual and that his saved correspondence supports his version of events. The complainant, however, claims a significant power imbalance due to his senior position within the municipality, which made it difficult for her to resist him.

This power dynamic is a key issue the prosecution will examine alongside other collected evidence. The original sex offense case file has already been transferred to the prosecution for a decision on whether the evidence warrants further proceedings. The alleged incidents occurred several years ago in the deputy mayor's office. The complainant, who is a secretary to another senior official, has not returned to work since the affair became public about six weeks ago.

The deputy mayor, whose name is currently withheld from publication, has returned to work at the city hall after a 30-day suspension period ended. His attorney stated that his client denies any threats, claiming his words were spoken in distress against demonstrably false claims by the complainant.