Police said Sunday that Yaakov Tanami, a gym teacher from the West Bank settlement of Karnei Shomron, was suspected of sexually assaulting some of his students, children no older than 14.
So far police have received five complaints about Tanami.
At a remand hearing, the Petah Tikva Magistrate’s Court permitted the publication of Tanami’s name because police suspect there may be more victims of his alleged assaults. The court heard Tanami is suspected of multiple incidents of indecent assault, invasion of privacy, and an obscene act in public.
Tanami was arrested last week. His remand was extended by another day.
Investigators believe he assaulted students at the school where he taught in the settlement of Kedumim.
Police asked for any other possible victims to report the incidents.
Also Sunday, an indictment was filed against Yarin Hevra, 28, of Rehovot, for sex acts he allegedly committed against children he was mentoring at an afterschool facility for the hearing impaired. The incidents, involving three boys aged 12-14, and a girl, 17, happened between 2015 and 2022.
Psychotherapist to be charged with rape
In addition, prosecutors said Sunday they will file charges of rape and sexual crimes against psychotherapist Yariv Cohen, from Even Yehuda.
A police investigation was opened in November following a complaint from a woman who claimed that Cohen assaulted her when she came to him for therapy. Since then, four additional women have filed complaints against Cohen. Some of the women described a similar pattern in which Cohen would cross boundaries during sessions.
Through his lawyers, the 50-year-old Cohen denied the suspicions against him.
According to Cohen’s website, his expertise is treating trauma victims and the treatments he provides include conversation and touch.
