Bar-Lev accuser 'Alef' to expose identity to public

Investigation unit says "elements with a vested interest" planting misinformation about case of commander accused of sexual harassment.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
bar-lev looking at us 298 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimksi )
bar-lev looking at us 298
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimksi )
The former Public Security Ministry employee, known as "Alef,"  who claims to have been sexually harassed by Police Cmdr. Uri Bar-Lev was expected to expose her identity for the first time on Thursday evening in an address to the Sexual Assault Victims Help Center Assembly being held at Tel Aviv Museum.
Earlier on Thursday, the Police Investigations Department of the Justice Ministry announced that various media reports that Bar-Lev, questioned for seven hours on Wednesday over suspicions of sexual offenses against two women, had passed lie-detector tests were "inaccurate,"
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"Following the interrogation, the PID decided that additional investigation activities were required," the PID added in a statement.
"We recognize an attempt by various elements with a vested interest to influence the investigation, including the planting of false information and inaccurate messages in the media, and including fabricated quotes attributed to the investigation team," the PID said, in a severe critique of media coverage of the investigation.
The PID said sections of the media were filled with "false information on the investigation and its results."
"We are working as quickly and methodically as possible, and are maintaining a media blackout on the investigation in order to not disrupt it," the PID added.
Bar-Lev was questioned for several hours at the Justice Ministry’s Police Investigations Department office in Netanya on Wednesday evening. The marathon interrogation began at 4 p.m. and lasted well beyond 10 p.m.
He has denied suspicions of sexually harassing "Alef," and raping a second woman, known as "mem," in alleged incidents two and five years ago respectively.