Suspected of exploiting the helpless: detention of sports instructor Gilboa Dahan extended
The 50-year-old suspect from Netanya was allegedly filmed touching patients with disabilities residing in a hostel in Kfar Saba. Dahan denies the allegations and claims: "I was only helping." His detention was extended by four days.
Gilboa Dahan, 50, from Netanya, is a sports instructor suspected of committing indecent acts against residents of a hostel in Kfar Saba. The Magistrate's Court in Petah Tikva extended his detention yesterday, Thursday, for the second time by four days.
Dahan was arrested by police officers from the Kfar Saba station following a covert investigation that had been conducted against him for a long period. As part of the investigation, security camera footage from the hostel was collected. According to the suspicion, the footage shows Dahan touching patients in a sexual manner and performing indecent acts upon them.
The police stated that during his interrogation, Dahan denied the acts attributed to him and claimed that all his actions were performed in the context of assisting the residents.
At the hearing held in court, the police representative, Staff Sergeant Ariel Amsalem, said:
"This is a suspect who worked as a sports instructor in a place where children with disabilities learn. We conducted a lengthy investigation following numerous complaints, during which the suspect was documented allegedly performing indecent acts on several patients. This is a serious incident of harming the helpless."
She further added that in the videos, the suspect is seen touching the intimate areas of the patients, who are unable to file a complaint independently due to their cognitive condition.
At the end of the hearing, Judge Amit Freiz ordered the extension of Dahan's detention until Sunday.
Attorneys Amir Kimhi and Yehudit Ela Shaked, representing Dahan, stated in response: "Our client denies the allegations. The investigation is ongoing, and we must wait for its conclusion."
