Actor Moshe Ivgy released early after 5 months behind bars

Actor Moshe Ivgy was released early from Hermon Prison in northern Israel on Monday after serving five months over the indecent assault and sexual harassment of four women.

Ivgy, a well-known television and movie star in Israel, was originally sentenced to serve an 11-month prison sentence.

He was convicted on five counts of indecent acts and sexual harassment last year and sentenced by the Haifa Magistrate’s Court, after the court overturned a previous verdict sentencing him to just six months of community service.

The charges stemmed from complaints by six women who accused Ivgy of harassing them while working together on various films, TV shows and plays years earlier.

Last week, the State Prosecution said it would not object to the parole board’s decision to grant Ivgy an early release.

The parole board said at the time that although Ivgy’s crimes were “ugly,” the chances that he would pose a danger to the public or reoffend had diminished since he was imprisoned. Prosecutors had said in the past that Ivgy’s multiple assaults demonstrate a pattern of behavior.

The board said that he would undergo rehabilitation upon his release, in addition to the treatment he received during his incarceration.

The chair of the Na’amat women’s group, Hagit Pe’er, slammed the decision when it was announced, saying it sent the wrong message to women and to offenders.

Ivgy has appeared in dozens of films, plays and television shows, including “Hunting Elephants” (2013) and Steven Spielberg’s “Munich” (2005) and won an Ophir — Israel’s top film award — for his supporting role in “Metallic Blues” in 2004, the same year he was nominated for Best Actor for his role in the award-winning “Campfire.”