Prison warden gets 30 months for sex offenses against detained asylum seeker

A prison official was sentenced on Tuesday at the Ramle Magistrate’s Court to 30 months after he was convicted of indecent assault and sexual harassment of a detained asylum seeker.

The convict, David Amoyal, the director of the women’s wing at Givon Prison, also received a suspended sentence and a fine, as well as being ordered to pay NIS 35,000 (approximately $9,800) to his victim.

The woman, who remained anonymous, came to Israel and sought asylum on the grounds that she was in danger in Nigeria. Her application was rejected and she was detained.

She was transferred to Givon Prison in the central city of Ramle, where a number of asylum seekers are held, and was harassed and attacked by Amoyal over the course of a number of months.

“He stripped me and threatened me that if I don’t prove that I’m a woman, he’ll send me to the men’s wing,” she told the Ynet news site earlier this year.

The woman said she kept a diary of the incidents, but initially felt unable to complain about the situation.

“I didn’t complain for a long time because I didn’t think they would believe me, and he took advantage of this situation. In the end, I decided to complain so that it wouldn’t happen to other women,” she said.

When she did file a complaint, prison guards testified about Amoyal’s sexual advances toward other detainees as well as a prison guard, the report said. The prison’s deputy commander also said she received complaints.

However, Amoyal denied the allegations and prosecutors decided to close the case due to a “lack of sufficient evidence.”

The decision was appealed by the Hotline for Refugees and Migrants organization, whereupon the case was reopened and charges were filed.