Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court judge, Or Mammon, ordered the release of the models' agent, Shay Avital, to house arrest with electronic handcuffs.
As I recall, against Avital, who was extradited from the Netherlands, an indictment for sexual offenses against two complainants.
The attorney's office claimed at the hearing that soon additional suspects from his family members will likely be questioned for obstruction.
At the court hearing, Avital's defense attorneys requested that he be released to house arrest, after claiming that there was no reason to arrest him due to danger, or the reason for escape, and recently a test review was conducted which was positive.
According to the prosecutor's office, the monitoring system for Avital is inappropriate since documents were recently produced from his phone that were classified as confidential since suspects will be interrogated soon.
Shay Avital during his arrest in the Netherlands (archive), photo: police spokesmen
The attorney's office objected to Avital's release when the prosecutor pointed out that the Probation Service's memo is anemic and lacking in details and there is no electronic handcuff to discredit the reason for the escapes and Avital can leave the country through illegal means, he has financial capacity and his escape process surprised them as well.
Judge Or Meman, who released Avital, noted in his decision that the probation service referred to risks, including the fear of fleeing the state.
The chance of recidivism for sex crimes is very low, however, as for escaping the law, the probation service stated that clear limits should be set for it.
Regarding the new materials claimed by the prosecution that were recently received, the judge wrote that these were materials removed from Avital's mobile phone which has been in the state's possession for a long time, "I do not believe that these documents provide new evidence or indication that creates risks that we have not seen in other decisions," Judge Memon wrote.
According to the indictment, filed against Avital, while he was the owner of the "Elite Model Israel" agency and influential in the modeling world, he used to approach young women and offer them modeling jobs.
In 2019, the 26-year-old Aa worked as a bartender at a club in Tel Aviv, where she met Avital, and maintained a friendly relationship with him. A few months later, during a party where she worked, Aa Avital led Aa to a room there and performed sexual acts on her.
The complainant tried to move his hand and knocked on the door for help, which was opened by an unknown person.
According to the additional charge, in 2014 Avital met BB, who was 15 at the time, and maintained a professional relationship with her. During 2015, Avital invited her to ride at a horse farm, and the complainant accepted. When they arrived at the scene, Avital offered BB a pink ball, according to him MD.
After taking it, the complainant felt vague and not in control of her body.
So Avital took advantage of her situation and committed obscene acts on her.
As I recall, 26 women complained against Avital, but only two complainants were included in the indictment, since in order to add additional charges, or accuse Avital anew, a permit is needed from the enforcement system in the Netherlands.
The rest of the complaints are still under investigation and the prosecutor's office stated that if an evidentiary foundation is established, the state will contact the authorities in the Netherlands and request an order to expand the extradition request in which they committed to only two charges.
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