Ex-PM aide said under house arrest over sexual assault claim

A former senior official in the Prime Minister’s Office, a close associate of Netanyahu, is under house arrest for five days over allegations of sexual assault and violence, Channel 2 reports.

The unnamed official is accused of attacking a performance artist about six weeks ago, after the two appeared at a conference together, the report says.

After the conference, the official reportedly offered the woman a ride back to the city in which they both live. The alleged victim says the man sat beside her in the back of the vehicle, plied her with alcohol and touched her against her will. He then allegedly took her to an apartment where other men were present and forced her to perform for them. The complainant says also he tried to kiss her against her will.

Channel 2 says that the complaint has been under investigation in secret for more than a month. According to the report, the man was questioned under caution yesterday and later placed under house arrest.