Plea bargain reached with Kiryat Malachi mayor

Kiryat Malachi Mayor Motti Malka reached a plea bargain with the state prosecution on Thursday over charges of sexual misconduct and violation of building regulations. Malka was to plead guilty to the acts, resign from his post and perform community service, but would not serve time in jail.

Police sources criticized the deal, saying there was enough concrete evidence to press charges and take the matter to court and Malka to prison, which would serve to deter other people in positions of power from doing the same.

In addition to community service Malka was ordered to compensate the women he hurt with large sums of money, and was banned from running for municipal office.

Malka, his deputy mayor, and five others, including the mayor’s son, were arrested in May on charges of repeatedly raping a female subordinate over a lengthy period of time.

At the time Malka denied the charges against him, saying the sexual encounters were consensual. Later, the rape charges were changed to charges of sexual misconduct.

Philip Podolsky contributed to this report.