TA Police: Famous Israeli singer brought in for questioning on suspicion of relations with minors

Radio station manager and promoter also questioned.

By BEN HARTMAN
Singer [illustrative] 370 (photo credit: Reuters)
Singer [illustrative] 370
(photo credit: Reuters)
Almost a week after a scandal involving a famous Israeli singer and allegations of sex with underage girls broke, the singer, his father, and two other men were brought in for questioning on Wednesday, Tel Aviv police said.
In addition to the singer, 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 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 the singer “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.

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.

The singer, 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.”

People close to the singer have said that in the midst of the controversy he plans to continue his public and TV appearances and will not make any cancellations.