In the video: Allegations against Bar Association Chairman Avi Himi/Photo: News 13
The former chairman of the Israeli Bar Association, Avi Himi, was convicted by a disciplinary court of misconduct and failed to report his relationship with a lawyer under his authority, Walla learned Tuesday. At the hearing, Himi admitted that he had a consensual romantic relationship with the lawyer, who later claimed that he had sexually harassed her. The punishment of the former chairman of the bar association was decided, after receiving a plea bargain, according to which he would confess to the charges against him. Therefore, he was sentenced to a suspended six-month suspension for three years.
Last June, Himi was interrogated by Lehav Unit 433 on suspicion of indecent acts and breach of trust, following the publication of allegations against him last January that he had sexually harassed. The lawyer claimed that Himi exposed his penis during a video call with her. Himi did not deny the publication and claimed that the act was consensual. "This publication is nothing but part of the poison machine of those working to promote the regime coup," he said, announcing his resignation a day after the publication.
Avi Himi/Reuven Castro
The lawyer who was hurt by Himi later said: "He was a man of status who allowed himself to act in a way that men are expected not to treat women under their authority, women who need them professionally. There was no consensus. Unfortunately, this dark behavior still happens today. I also saw that there were questions 'why she didn't hang up' or what was really there, so I did hang up after not a long time. It took me a few moments to digest what I was seeing. It wasn't an easy sight, it was something that is harassment and inconvenience to every woman, at any age, in any position. That's what it was."
"When I think about it, I don't really know what made me feel it was right to document the event," she added, "There was the right instinct, because maybe it had a previous event on his part. Maybe I felt that there really was some kind of dependence on his part. I have no way of knowing whether there was a recommendation or not." Regarding Himi's allegations that the two allegedly had an affair, she said: "This is not behavior that was customary towards me before. It's not something normative, it's not acceptable for a person to behave in this way, and maybe I didn't see fit to act against that act."
- More on the subject:
- Avi Himi
- Israel Bar Association
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