Police detain senior J'lem council member on sexual harassment suspicion

The investigation was opened after police received a complaint from a woman who said she was sexually harassed by senior officials during the period she worked at the council.

By TAMARA ZIEVE
Updated: JUNE 5, 2018 21:30
Illustrative photo of handcuffs (photo credit: ING IMAGE/ASAP)
Illustrative photo of handcuffs
(photo credit: ING IMAGE/ASAP)
Police detained a senior council member from the Jerusalem district on Tuesday on suspicion of sexual harassment. Police took the official in for questioning and also detained a suspect who formerly held a senior position on the city council.
The investigation was opened after police received a complaint from a woman who said she was sexually harassed by senior officials when she worked at the council.
After police took testimonies, they detained the suspects on Tuesday morning.
The police then conducted a search of the council offices in an attempt to find evidence.
Philipowitz was later released to stay under house arrest and will continue to perform his duties as council head, although he won’t be allowed to enter the council building while the investigation is ongoing, Channel 10 reported.
"This is a repeated complaint which has been found to be baseless,"  read a statement released on behalf of Philopowitz, which stated that the complaint was made by a former senior council employee who was fired in light of many complaints from other employees as well a residents, and that her complaint had been examined in the past.
"During the process of her dismissal and with the aim of preventing it, she made a false claim of harassment...only now, more than a year and a half after her dismissal, and after her attempt to sue for her dismissal was unsuccessful, and due to the fact that this is an election period, the complaint was filed with the police," the statement added.