Police check 2nd sex assault claim against minister
Third party alleges presidential front-runner Silvan Shalom was involved in incident, but no complaint filed
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Police on Thursday received information on a second suspected case of alleged sexual assault by Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom, though no complaint was officially filed on the matter. The alleged victim’s identity was unknown to police, as investigators received information regarding the suspected assault via a third party.
The new investigation came two days after Shalom gave his version of events to police in response to allegations by a former employee that he sexually assaulted her 15 years ago.
Both the police and the State Prosecution have sought to reinforce the allegations against Shalom with additional complaints from other women, without which the matter will be laid to rest by the end of the week due to the statute of limitations.
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein ordered to continue the investigation in light of the new information received by police.
According to Channel 2, police contacted the second possible victim but she adamantly refused to lodge a complaint.
On Tuesday, Shalom was questioned by police under caution for an hour and a half and gave his version of the events involving the first case. Shalom told police that he had no recollection of the incident in question and did not remember the complainant ever having worked for him.
The National Fraud Unit, which handles high-level corruption investigations, opened an inquiry earlier this week into the claims of the woman, who said she was sexually assaulted or abused by Shalom 15 years ago while she was working for the then-science minister in the first Netanyahu government.
Sources close to Shalom have denied the allegations vehemently, saying he did not even know the woman in question.
“This is political assassination. I have no idea what they’re talking about. I’ve never heard the woman’s name in my life,” Shalom’s confidants quoted him as saying.
Some sources suggested the allegations were a smear campaign related to the race to replace President Shimon Peres when he leaves the presidency in July.
Shalom, a member of the Likud party, is one of the front-runners in the race.
Update: The allegations against Shalom were not substantiated and the investigation was subsequently closed.
The Times of Israel Community.