Former Shomrim Leader Chaim Rotter Released to House Arrest After Year in Custody

Chaim Rotter, the former chairman of the Shomrim organization in Bnei Brak, was ordered released to house arrest by the court on Monday after spending over a year in custody. Rotter, 39, was detained in a dramatic arrest at Ben Gurion Airport in June 2025 upon arriving from Poland. The court's decision requires Rotter to remain under house arrest at his family's home near Jerusalem, supervised by a team of five monitors. This release follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that had previously denied his release and upheld the prosecution's appeal against a lower court's decision to allow electronic monitoring instead.

Rotter faces serious charges related to offenses against youths and minors, allegedly committed over many years from 2009 to 2024. The indictment, filed in July 2025, accuses him of exploiting his long-standing leadership role at Shomrim, where he held significant authority for about three decades, to harm four young individuals, including a 15-year-old minor. Police investigations were based on approximately 15 complaints, some of which led to the current indictment.

The case has generated considerable public and legal tension. Victims testified in court, with one victim not named in the indictment expressing deep concern about Rotter's release, citing his perceived power and danger. Legal proceedings against Rotter continue under the new conditions of his supervised house arrest.