A teacher from Tel Aviv has been indicted for sexual offenses on Monday, following complaints that he forced his 12-year-old student to send him footage of a sexual nature.
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The teacher, Yotam Okon, 37, allegedly requested that his pupil send him pictures and videos of her touching herself, as well as sending sexually explicit text messages.
He is also charged with additional offenses, including indecent acts on a minor during his meetings with her.
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While Okon admitted to and expressed regret over the correspondence, he insisted by way of his attorneys, Advs. Ssasi Gez and Idan Shani, that his actions ended there.
He also contended that the criminal complaint was filed with the police, and that allegations regarding the sexual encounters were drummed up only after negotiations with the child’s mother regarding monetary damages broke down.
At the hearing, it was revealed that police suspect Okon sexually assaulted another student, after testimony was collected from other female students. “There is an indication that we are not talking about an isolated incident,” said Judge Christina Hilou-Assad at Okon’s remand hearing last week.
Recently, statements by some of Okon’s former students have spread on social media. In one post, a student recalled that Okon “gave special treatment” to certain female students. In another, that Okon “behaved in a strange and disturbing manner.”