Eyal Golan revealed to be mystery singer suspected of sex with underage girls

Singer, 4 other suspects brought in for questioning; Golan reportedly claims he didn't know girls were underage.

By BEN HARTMAN, JPOST.COM STAFF
Eyal Golan (photo credit: Hadad Eliran)
Eyal Golan
(photo credit: Hadad Eliran)
The famous singer suspected of engaging in sexual relations with underage girls is Eyal Golan, it was revealed Wednesday after a gag order on his identity was lifted.
Almost a week after a scandal involving the famous Israeli singer and allegations of sex with underage girls broke, the singer, his father, and three other men were brought in for questioning on Wednesday, Tel Aviv police said. Golan's name was not supposed to be released until 48 hours after he was officially brought in for questioning, but his lawyer waived his right to remain anonymous.
In addition to Golan, those being investigated include the manager of a well-known radio station and a Tel Aviv promoter.
The case, which broke last week and has dominated the media since, involves, Golan, one of Israel’s most famous singers and a complaint made by one 15-year-old girl that she had sexual relations with him on more than one occasion.
The media has been rife with reports that people close to Golan “scouted” girls at his concerts and invited them to the parties, a report that police would not confirm on Sunday.

That allegation has been followed by testimony from other girls believed to be linked to the case, which was first opened months earlier.

According to Israeli media reports, Golan claims that he was not aware that the girl's in question were underage.

Omri Hayoon, the blogger who broke the case by violating a gag order last Wednesday, was questioned under caution by police over the weekend on suspicion of obstruction of justice.

On Saturday night he issued a complaint to Tel Aviv police saying that he feels that his life is in danger because of what he said was incitement against him, largely from prominent public-relations man Rani Rahav, who in recent days has been outspoken in his criticism of Hayoon.

Golan, for his part, said during a concert in Tel Aviv on Thursday night that “I had a difficult day, I could have canceled, but music conquers all.”

Golan announced Wednesday that he was stepping down as a judge on the singing contest television program, "Rising Star," and Keshet announced that it would not be running an additional season of another Golan singing contest program, "Eyal Golan is calling you."