Soccer club manager, 3 others arrested for sex crimes committed against minors

Ofer Tzabari was still on house arrest when he was placed under arrest for the new allegations.

By BEN HARTMAN
Arrest of Ofer Tzabari (photo credit: POLICE SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Arrest of Ofer Tzabari
(photo credit: POLICE SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Hapoel Petah Tikva soccer club manager Ofer Tzabari and a high-ranking IDF officer were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of having sex with a series of underage boys, including some who were paid for it, a court cleared for publication on Wednesday.
Four suspects have been arrested in the case, which broke following Tzabari’s arrest on the night of November 27th after he hit a traffic police officer with his car in Bat Yam and fled the scene. Minutes before, Tzabari had been questioned by an officer who found him sitting partially nude in his car with a 17-year-old boy, engaging in what was described as “suspicious activity.”
Tzabari was still being held on house arrest on Tuesday when he was taken into custody over the new allegations, which police heard from members of the Hapoel Petah Tikva youth soccer league who claimed that Tzabari and the other suspects had sexual relations with them in exchange for money and gifts.
In addition, police said they found evidence linking Tzabari to the teens, including texts from his cellphone.
The Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday remanded Tzabari for a further six days. Also Wednesday, Hapoel Petah Tikva FC ended Tzabari’s employment as manager.