Holon mayor says he was questioned by police for alleged sexual assault, denies charge

Holon Mayor Shai Kenan revealed Friday that he was the local leader questioned by police over an allegation of indecent assault made by a municipal volunteer, a day after Hebrew media reported the interrogation of an unidentified mayor in central Israel.

The complainant, who voluntarily managed an association supervised by the municipality, said she refused Kenan’s offer of money to run a project at a meeting, and that he later pursued her to a parking lot and began hugging her and kissing her neck without consent, Channel 12 reported.

The unnamed woman said that it became apparent to her that the meeting had been a “trap.”

“I was in shock,” she said, according to Channel 12. “It took me time to digest what he was doing. But I was sure that I was not the only one, according to his conduct, he thought this was how he could buy women. I wasn’t ready for his advances.”

In a post on Facebook, Kenan denied the accusations and said he was moved by the “thousands of messages of support” he received since his interrogation was reported.

He said he trusted law enforcement to clear him quickly.

Kenan ousted long-time Holon Mayor Moti Sasson during municipal elections in February.