The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned the decision to release Chaim Rotter, a Bnei Brak resident accused of rape and indecent acts against minors, under house arrest, with the suspect remaining in custody for the time being.
The decision came after a Tel Aviv District Court ruled on Sunday that Rotter could be released to house arrest with electronic monitoring in Safed, a move the prosecution opposed, arguing that the supervision conditions were insufficient and that there was a real concern he could not be properly monitored.
The hearing on the appeal was held behind closed doors, with some of Rotter's victims present at the court to follow the proceedings.
Among them was Meir Ben Harush, who told Walla after the decision: "I can breathe now knowing that he remains in custody. It is unthinkable that they even considered releasing him in the first place. A rapist who committed such serious crimes belongs in prison until his last day. I am glad the prosecution filed an appeal."
Ben Harush then sharply attacked Rotter and said: "Haim Rotter is Hitler who committed crimes against humanity towards me."
Rotter used his position in Bnei Brak to rape, target minors
Rotter, who served for about 15 years as chairman of the Hashomrim association in Bnei Brak, is accused of rape and committing indecent acts against minors.
According to the indictment, he used his public status and the influence he had accumulated in the community for years to commit sexual offenses against complainants between 2009 and 2024.
The prosecution says that in his role, Rotter managed the association’s activities, recruited volunteers, patrolled the streets of Bnei Brak and maintained regular contact with the city’s police station.
As a result, it is alleged, he became a well-known and influential public figure, and allegedly used that standing to gain the complainants’ trust and commit the sexual offenses attributed to him.