Police say their investigation shows that several haredi activists knew about the man’s crimes but did not report him to police. Instead, the alleged pedophile was “privately treated with medication that was supposed to lessen his sexual urges.”
Simon Benisty
Updated 5:42 pm CST
Suspected Haredi Pedophile Admits To Abusing 11 Kids In Jerusalem, Police Fear Number Much Higher, Haredi Coverup Fails
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Israel Police in Jerusalem arrested Simon Benisty, a 48-year-old haredi man yesterday for allegedly sexually assaulting 11 boys and girls age 10- to 14-years old. The 50-year-old divorced father of three reportedly admitted his crimes to police and is cooperating with the investigation. The victims are children of his friends.
Police say their investigation shows that several haredi activists knew about Benisty’s crimes but did not report him to police.
Instead, Benisty was “privately treated with medication that was supposed to lessen his sexual urges,” Ynet reported.
Both the doctor who administered that medication and the haredi community leader who funded it will be questioned by police.
Police found out about the child sexual abuse a few months ago, after an 11-year-old Tel Aviv girl's mother filed a complaint. The girl allegedly was sexually abused by or witnessed sexual abuse committed by the man when she visited Jerusalem and stayed with relatives there.
Benisty was arrested based on that complaint and admitted to having 10 other victims.
Police believe there are many more cases beyond the 11 he admitted to in Israel, both because of that admitted history and because of two incidents of child sexual abuse Benisty was convicted of in New York City in 2010. He was arrested in March of that year and deported to Israel in October. His original sentence was 11 months in a New York City prison. Israel Police are reportedly investigating Benisty's criminal history outside Israel with the help of Interpol.
Here's the entire sex registry entry for Benisty as a PDF file:
Download Simon Benisty Sex Offender Details Page - NY DCJS
[Hat Tip: HeathenHassid.]