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A 31-year-old teacher Yuval Leibel from Rishon Lezion, who is suspected of establishing intimate relationships with students, is at the centre of a high-profile scandal in Israel. She is accused of using social media to manipulate and deceive, as well as falsifying the identity of one of her students, whom she allegedly passed off as a boy with special needs. The incident became the basis of an ongoing investigation by the Lahav 433 cyber unit 105, TimeUkraineIsrael reports with reference to Ynet.
Details of the investigation
A teacher was released from house arrest for a ten-day period after being accused of indecent assault with students under the age of 14. She was banned from using the Internet and her smartphone for a month, as well as from approaching the school where she worked in Holon. According to the case file, Leibel was suspected of maintaining intimate relationships with students through social media using fake accounts.
Prosecution and defence
The police note that the teacher tried to disguise her activities by posing as one of her students in order to maintain intimate relations with other students. At the same time, her lawyers, Oron Schwartz and Yogev Narkis, categorically deny the accusations, stating that the suspicion is unfounded. They emphasise that the fact that she was dismissed from her position back in August and placed under house arrest indicates that there are no grounds for the charges.
The lawyers also emphasise that their client opened a fake social media account to provoke the student, who, according to her, had been annoying her and showing indecent behaviour for a year.
Response of the educational institution
The school in Holon where Leibel worked reported that she was dismissed back in August this year after the first signs of ethical misconduct began to emerge. However, the events that are unfolding now not only call into question the teacher’s professionalism, but also raise serious concerns among parents and students.
Implications for Leibel
The investigation is currently ongoing, but the teacher’s lawyers are confident that no charges will be brought against her. They believe that the allegations are the result of a misunderstanding and have little chance of developing further. Israeli police continue to gather facts, and further details of the case may become known in the coming weeks.
