Shul cleaner indicted for sexual abuse

Man accused of engaging in sexual acts with boys at J'lem synagogue.

Rape victim (photo credit: Judy Siegel-Itzkovich)
Rape victim
(photo credit: Judy Siegel-Itzkovich)
A cleaner who worked in a synagogue was indicted by the Jerusalem District Court on Friday on charges of sexual abusing at the place of worship minors between the ages of eight and thirteen. The suspect has also been charged with sodomy and attempted sodomy.
The accused, 45-year-old Gil Dvash, allegedly offered the boys money to help him clean the synagogue and would then engage them with sexual behavior. During the police investigation, Dvash admitted to officers that he committed some of the acts alleged to have taken place between the years 2006 and 2008.
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The acts all occurred at a synagogue in the capital's Bayit Vegan neighborhood where the suspect worked. A police representative at the suspect's remand hearing alleged that the congregation's rabbis were aware of the man's conduct but had failed to inform police.
Police asked the district court to keep Dvash in custody until the completion of their investigation.