Police: Jet ski instructor raped victims at Kinneret

A 43-year-old jet ski instructor allegedly sexually assaulted two female students – one of them a minor – police said on Wednesday.

The alleged offenses occurred approximately three years ago, but the alleged victims, now aged 20, came forward recently.

One woman said she was raped and was the subject of indecent acts, while a second said she too was subjected to indecent acts on the part of the suspect.

The suspect, from Kfar Saba, owns a jet ski garage on Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee), and allegedly met the girls through ads he placed in the media.

“He took them to the Kinneret for jet ski lessons, and to a cottage in the area. That's where the offenses occurred,” a northern police spokesman said. “He told them lessons had to be carried out in the Kinneret.”

The spokesman added that the suspect has linked himself to one incident, but denies rape and says all acts occurred with consent.

“He claims they agreed to the acts. We believe there may be more victims who have not lodged a complaint, and that’s why we are turning to members of the public and are urging anyone with more information to come forward,” the spokesman added.

The suspect's attorney denied that any rape had taken place, saying that as soon as the girls objected to his acts, he stopped.

Police said the suspect will be formally charged on Friday at the Nazareth Magistrate’s Court.