The Israeli police are investigating a top modelling agent for sexually abusing his female clients.
The police confirmed on Monday that they are probing Israeli modelling agent Shai Avital, a representative for a number of the country’s supermodels, after several complaints of sexual harassment by former colleagues and clients.
The first complaint levelled against Avital appeared on national TV and a second report was filed with the authorities on Monday evening.
The police added that they expect other women to come forward, and that the investigation is being headed by the Tel Aviv police’s investigative unit.
Channel 13 news broadcast evidence of the agent sending threatening messages to models, and one leaked message appears to show Avital boasting that he has friends in the police and is not scared of complaints being filed against him.
According to the news reports, one document shows that the agent paid ILS 120,000 (GBP 26,720) to the model Israela Avtau in 2009 after allegedly sexually abusing her in his office.
The incident was reportedly hushed up and he continued working as an agent.
The news report also claimed that Avital sent suggestive messages to a number of models, including minors.
Some women also said that the agent exposed himself in their company. One model said she had sex with him afterwards and that it continued regularly after he promised her a spot on a popular reality TV show.
Other models have accused the agent of kissing them, licking their face, and fondling them in alleged incidents spanning back over two decades, according to local media.
Israeli model Hila Krugman said on Instagram saying that she had been “lucky” that she had only experienced him trying to force his way on her once – when he tried to kiss her when she was 19.
But she said that he had continued to send her messages for years telling her that she would lose money and eventually her career if she “did not cooperate”.
She added: “We live in a world where without solid proof, it is very hard to stand up against powerful and connected people.”
The investigation continues.
