Nearly a year after reality TV personality and former Big Brother contestant Sapir Burgil filed a complaint against her husband, Abraham Aklum, police have officially informed both sides that the case is closed. Burgil had accused Aklum, whom she met on the reality show, of physical violence, threats and alleged sexual harassment. The closure was announced on Tuesday.
Aklum responded with a post saying he had endured a year of pain, uncertainty and damage to his reputation. “After a difficult year of coping with pain, uncertainty and harm to my good name, I received today the news that the case against me has been closed,” he wrote. He added that he had gone through a period he would not wish on anyone, with “hard moments” and “sleepless nights,” and said that people had “already judged” him without knowing the facts. “Today the truth received official expression,” he wrote.
In a video, Aklum directly addressed Burgil, denying her accusations. “Sapir, I did not threaten you, I was not violent toward you and certainly did not rape you,” he said, accusing her of trying to ruin his name and send him to prison for money. He also said the divorce is still not over and that she hurt his parents and extended family.
Minutes later, Burgil posted her own response, saying the case was closed for lack of evidence, not because she was found innocent. “The case will not go to court. It was closed for lack of evidence, not lack of innocence,” she wrote, adding that she had long decided to move on with her life. She said she had seen how quickly people become “investigators, judges and juries” when a woman speaks up, and stressed, “Lack of evidence does not mean lack of guilt. And that is my victory.” She also said she may appeal the decision. The posts drew supportive reactions from several former Big Brother castmates, including Shi Lee Ofri, Yuval Maatuk, Yanki Goldhaber and Stav Katzin. The dispute began about a year ago during a shared vacation abroad, after which Aklum returned urgently to Israel and the couple’s ugly divorce battle continued both in court and on social media.
