Police began collecting evidence on Sunday morning against renowned Israeli actor Moshe Ivgy who has been accused by nearly a dozen women of sexual harassment.
According to Channel 10, police detectives have begun contacting Ivgy’s accusers to determine if there is enough evidence to open criminal proceedings against the actor.
While the 10 women have been interviewed extensively by the media, none of them have yet filed an official police complaint.
The allegations broke last week when six women complained that Ivgy sexually harassed them, in most cases during the course of their work with him acting in theaters, TV and feature-length films. Four additional women have since come forward.
Their testimony points to a pattern where Ivgy would have actresses fired if they resisted his sexual advances on set.
In response to the complaints, Ivgy said in a statement, “I’m shocked by the claims, I never harmed anyone in any way, man or woman.”
The affair comes on the heels of two high-profile sexual harassment cases against politicians – and has raised questions in Israeli media why women are turning to the press instead of police.
Both Jewish Home MK Yinon Magal and Likud minister Silvan Shalom resigned after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced against them on social media and/or news outlets.
Citing a lack of evidence, police eventually decided to close the cases against both Magal and Shalom – but only after both resigned from politics, raising considerable criticism over their “trial by media.”
One of the woman accusing renowned Israeli actor Moshe Ivgy of sexual harassment has filed an official police complaint – making her the first woman in the case to do so.
Police are investigating her claim and trying to determine if a statute of limitations applies.
The woman turned to police Monday after nearly a dozen women came forward last week, asserting to news outlets that Ivgy had sexually harassed them, in most cases during the course of their work with him acting in theaters, TV and feature-length films.
On Sunday it was reported that police began collecting evidence against Ivgy and were contacting his accusers to determine if there is enough evidence to open criminal proceedings against the actor.
While not all of the complainants have decided to cooperate with police, it appears for now that Ivgy will be questioned under caution and an investigation launched.
Ivgy publicly responded for the first time to the allegations after a stage performance in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening.
Speaking at the end of a show, Ivgy told the audience that “the reports in recent days have turned my life upside down.”
“My family is going through difficult times. I have respect for every person, respect for all men and women with whom I worked. I repeat that I never willingly tried to hurt anyone. I do not want to respond to this in the media and want to do it in front of the authorized bodies if need be. Thank you all,” he added.