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Friday, July 25, 2025
Likud MK’s questioning said to focus on allegation of bribing witness to lie about sexual assault
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Investigators questioned Likud lawmaker Hanoch Milwidsky earlier today on suspicion of bribing a witness to lie in court regarding sexual assault allegations against the leader of a religious group he has deep ties to, Channel 12 news reports. He is also suspected of forcing himself on her after she gave her false testimony.
Milwidsky served as the legal counsel for Michael Laitman, the leader of the the New Age “Bnei Baruch” association, when Laitman was accused in 2019 of sexual assault by a former member of the group. The ex-member accused Laitman of raping the witness in question, who had since repatriated to Russia.
Police suspect that Milwidsky played a key role in Laitman’s subsequent cover-up attempt, in which the two allegedly bribed the witness to fly back to Israel to reject the allegations that Laitman had raped her.
According to Channel 12, the witness confirmed to police investigators who flew to meet her in Moscow last year that Milwidsky bribed her to commit perjury. She further told police that he sexually assaulted her in her hotel room immediately after she gave her false testimony. The lawmaker has denied all allegations.
This morning, police announced that they had summoned a sitting MK for questioning under caution, without naming Milwidsky explicitly. Officers also detained two others on suspicion of obstructing justice as part of the same investigation. The Likud MK has faced other accusations of sexual assault in the past.
The Times of Israel Community.