Senior cop fired over alleged sexual misconduct

Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch on Monday fired former Jerusalem police chief Nissim “Niso” Shaham.

The Justice Ministry’s Police Investigations Department filed charges against Shaham in mid-October that included sexual harassment, breach of trust, fraud and indecent acts.

Aharonovitch’s decision followed the recommendation of Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino not to allow Shaham to independently resign.

Shaham is alleged to have had sexual relations with multiple female police officers under his command who were much younger and of relatively low rank in the police.

In the wake of the indictment, Shaham announced last week he would retire from the police. Aharonovitch’s decision to reject his resignation, and opt for summary dismissal, was seen as a message to the police force that the behavior in which Shaham allegedly engaged is unacceptable.

Shaham is accused by the Justice Ministry’s investigators of “using his rank in order to take advantage of significantly younger female officers… in junior positions, who were subordinate to him, and engage in consensual sexual relations that violated the rules and regulations of a senior police officer and commander,” Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

Sources close to Shaham were quoted as saying that the investigation has shifted away from allegations of sexual misconduct and focused on breach of trust and fraud.

But Shaham’s lawyers said he was innocent altogether.

“He did not commit criminal acts… We believe that in the framework of this process these matters will be investigated in depth, and the question of whether or not to file charges in this incident will be examined,” his attorneys said in a statement.