Israeli Court Sentences Human Trafficker to Four Months in Prison in Lenient Plea Deal

The Jerusalem District Court recently approved a lenient plea deal for 42-year-old Igor Yosef Nashpitz from Kiryat Yam, who was convicted of pimping women. Nashpitz received a four-month prison sentence, but due to time already served in detention, he will spend only about one month behind bars. The case emerged in February when police uncovered evidence that Nashpitz and his partner, Liana Carlos Nashpitz, operated a human trafficking network involving Brazilian women for approximately a year and a half.

According to the indictment, the women were held in various apartments and forced to provide sexual services to about ten men daily, six days a week, charging between 600 to 1,000 shekels per session. Nashpitz’s role primarily involved collecting money from the exploited women. To intimidate them and assert control, he falsely presented himself as a police officer using a civilian guard volunteer ID. The profits from this operation were estimated in the hundreds of thousands of shekels.

While Nashpitz’s case has concluded, the trial of his partner Liana is ongoing. Naama Goldberg, CEO of the NGO "Lo Omdot Minad" ("We Do Not Stand Aside"), criticized the light sentence, emphasizing the severe exploitation and harm to the victims. The Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office explained that Liana was the main organizer, while Nashpitz’s involvement was limited, which influenced the reduced charges and sentence. The punishment also included compensation for the victims and considered humanitarian factors related to the couple’s children.

Separately, a recent State Comptroller report highlighted police failures in enforcing laws against prostitution consumption, with a Channel 11 investigation leading to the closure of seven brothels, though three have since reopened.