Air defense officer sentenced to 4 years, 9 months for sex crimes against subordinates

A former Israeli Air Force lieutenant was sentenced by a military court on Sunday to four years and nine months in jail for a series of sex crimes against two female subordinate soldiers several years ago.

The officer, who served in the air defense array, was detained in January 2022 over the allegations and has remained held since.

He was convicted in September on six counts, including sodomy and five indecent acts by force, against two female soldiers who served under his direct command.

“The offenses were committed using force and using his command authority over the victims,” the military said in a statement Monday following the sentencing.

In addition to the 57-month sentence, the lieutenant was given a suspended sentence, ordered to pay the victims NIS 33,000 ($9,100), and demoted to the rank of airman — the Air Force equivalent of private.

“The Military Advocate General is accompanying the victims of the crime, updating them on developments, and granting them all the rights they are entitled to according to law,” the IDF said.

The IDF said it views the case, and any incident of sex crimes in the army, “with severity.”