Former senior cop convicted of indecent act, cleared of sexual harassment

Former Jerusalem police chief Nissan “Niso” Shaham was convicted Tuesday of an indecent act, but was acquitted of most of the other charges filed against him more than four years ago.

Shaham was charged in 2013 with sexual harassment, five counts of breach of trust and five counts of indecent acts for having sexual relations with multiple female police officers under his command who were much younger and of relatively low rank in the police.

But the Tel Aviv District Court on Tuesday acquitted him of most of the charges, citing flaws in the investigation. He was convicted on one count of an indecent act for kissing a police officer.

Judge Benny Sagi said that “despite the conflict of interests, his decisions regarding the police officers he was involved with… were justified.”

Former Jerusalem police chief Nissan ‘Niso’ Shaham at the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem’s Old City in 2012. (photo credit: Uri Lenz/Flash90)

In the wake of the indictment in 2013, Shaham announced he would retire from the police, but then-public security minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch decided to reject his resignation and opt for summary dismissal. It was seen as a message to the police force that the behavior in which Shaham was said to have engaged was unacceptable.

Shaham refused throughout the trial to sign a plea deal with the prosecution in which he would admit only to breach of trust.

“He believed that everything he went through was worth his truth,” an associate of his was quoted as saying by Ynet.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.