ZAKA founder and chairman Yehuda Meshi-Zahav visited the headquarters of the Israel Police's Lahav 433 Major Crimes Unit on Monday to speak on his own behalf in the investigation recently launched into allegations that he has committed multiple sex crimes against Haredi children and women.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Meshi-Zahav arrived a day after the Israel Police made a formal announcement that an investigation had been opened into the allegations against him. A police officer met with him at the gate and informed him that the visit was irregular, as he had not yet been summoned to provide testimony, after which Meshi-Zahav left.
As of Monday, none of the alleged victims had filed official complaints with the police. The Israel Police have reached out to a few of the alleged victims, but most refused to come forward.
One of Meshi-Zahav's close associates said Monday that "he can't stand what the media is doing to him anymore."
"He denies the allegations against him in the media and feels a strong desire to know what is suspected of and give his version," the associate said.
Meshi-Zahav's attorney, Ephraim Dimari, said, "My client, believing in his innocence, took the unusual step and presented himself for questioning at Lahav 433. My client has nothing to hide, everything is malicious rumors."
Meanwhile, Zviki Fleishman and Shana Aharonson from the organization Magen, which provides mental health support to members of the Haredi community, who contributed to the Haaretz expose about Meshi-Zahav's alleged acts, also arrived at the Lahav 433 headquarters on Monday, where they handed over material regarding the alleged crimes, as well as the contact details of a few of the people who spoke to journalists and others who contacted Magen in the last few days since the story broke.
As the investigation progresses, a number of senior ZAKA officials and Haredi public officials are expected to be summoned to give evidence as the police attempt to determine whether or not they knew about the alleged acts and failed to report them.
Since the expose ran, more men and women have spoken to the media, claiming to have been sexually assaulted by Meshi-Zahav, and alleging that he had threatened them to keep them from disclosing what had happened.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the affair in an interview with Army Radio on Monday and said he "hoped it isn't true."
"Sexual molestation of women and children is something that should brought to justice," he said.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
