Court remands modeling agent accused of sex crimes after year on the run abroad

Former modeling agent Shai Avital, who is suspected of multiple sex crimes, appeared in court for a remand hearing Wednesday the day after he was extradited back to Israel after over a year on the run.

The Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court ordered that he remain in custody for seven days, until January 10, due to concerns that if he were free he could obstruct justice, or even fleeing again. Police had asked that he be remanded for 10 days.

Though there have been dozens of complaints made against Avital, 45, he is formally accused of indecent acts against only two women, one of whom was unconscious at the time of the alleged assault.

Ordering him held in custody, Justice Avital Amsalem Gilboa said Avital’s actions in the past had proven there was a valid “fear he would evade justice.”

A police representative told the court that in the wake of initial media reports about the accusations against Avital, he was summoned for questioning but never turned up. An arrest warrant was issued, but Avital instead went on the run and skipped from country to country.

The representative said Avital’s version of events regarding the accusations against him were “sophisticated.”

Avital, who denies any wrongdoing, left Israel in 2021 shortly before media reports about a slew of accusations began to surface against him.

He was finally arrested five months ago in Amsterdam. In November, the Netherlands agreed to an Israeli request that he be extradited.

Avital arrived back in the country under police escort on Tuesday, although he was not handcuffed on the flight.

Investigative reports about Avital’s conduct toward women have been published by Israeli journalists as early as 2008, but an official criminal investigation began only in July 2021, after Channel 13 news released evidence of Avital sending models threatening messages.

Messages of a sexual nature allegedly sent by Avital to several women, including minors, were also shown by the network.

Several women also claimed Avital exposed himself in front of them, including at least one case that resulted in them having sex afterward, which continued regularly after Avital promised the apparent victim would be featured on a popular reality show.

Other women accused him of forcibly groping and kissing them and licking their faces. The allegations span the past two decades.

In leaked text messages, Avital appeared to boast that he had connections with the police and was not afraid of any complaints against him.