Impersonated a man and committed indecent acts against women: the suspect is a former police officer
Earlier this month, police arrested a Petah Tikva resident in her 20s on suspicion of impersonating a man, conducting romantic relationships, and committing sex offenses. According to the suspicion, she operated online under the name "Orel Hazan". Police have collected testimonies from five complainants.
About two weeks ago, police arrested a Petah Tikva resident in her 20s on suspicion of impersonating a man, forming relationships with women online, and committing sex offenses against them, according to a report in "HaYom". She is suspected of serious crimes of rape and indecent acts. It has now emerged that the suspect is a former police officer.
The former officer was arrested about two weeks ago, and during a hearing held today at the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court, the suspect asked the court to release her:
"I have no criminal record. I was a police officer for two years. Everything I did was because I was in a low place in my life. I want to go home. I do not intend to obstruct the investigation; I was a police officer and I know how things work."
After two weeks in custody, the judge decided to release her to house arrest for 10 days. The prosecution is expected to file a serious indictment against her soon.
According to the suspicion, the suspect, while presenting herself as a man, conducted romantic and sexual relationships with several women via the internet. She presented herself under the name Orel Hazan and caused the women to perform sexual acts themselves while convinced they were dealing with a man.
According to the complainants' testimonies, each of them conducted a relationship with the suspect at different times and over a period of time, without knowing that behind the male identity she presented was actually a woman. One of the complainants told investigators: "We were in a romantic relationship for months, until I discovered it was a woman."
So far, the police have taken testimonies from five women who were allegedly victims of the suspect's impersonation and indecent acts. The court has prohibited the publication of her name and photograph. Her attorney, Erez Bar Zvi, said after the hearing: "I am happy that with the police's consent, my client was released under conditions. We are confident that when things are clarified, the case will be closed with nothing."
