The High Court has given the police and the Public Security Ministry 45 days to explain why they should not have taken administrative action against a top anti-graft officer accused of sexual harassment.
Roni Rittman, 51, was accused of two instances of sexual harassment, including kissing a female subordinate against her will six years ago. He has denied the allegations against him and said that a senior officer in the Israel Police’s intelligence unit was trying to frame him.
Head of the Lahav 433 police anti-corruption unit Roni Rittman, arrives at the Police Investigation Department, Jerusalem, December, 2015. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
During the course of the investigation, Rittman, who heads the Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit, was put on mandatory leave but returned to work in late December after police chief Roni Alsheich said there was insufficient evidence to take action.
A female officer had petitioned the High Court to have Rittman removed from his post, leading to the decision today.
Her lawyer calls the decision “very significant,” the Ynet news website reports.
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