A traffic policeman was remanded by the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court for four days on suspicion of raping and threatening a 17-year-old girl. The name and further details concerning the 40-year-old police officer are under a court-imposed gag order, at the officer’s request.

The young women complained to the Justice Ministry’s department for investigating police officers, saying she went to the police station a few days ago on errands, and met the police officer there for the first time. After leaving the station, the officer called her and they set a time to meet, she told investigators. When they met, he raped her and after that drew his pistol and threatened that if she filed a complaint, he would harm her, she said.

The police officer told investigators they had consensual sexual relations and at no time did he draw his weapon. The investigators collected evidence from the scene where the girl said the rape occurred.

Judge Efrat Bousani rejected the suspect’s claims that because the girl is only 17 consensual sexual relations with her were legal. Bousani ruled a reasonable suspicion exists the police officer committed the alleged crimes, and agreed to have him held another four days for questioning. The judge ruled the suspect’s name could be published, but stayed her decision for another day to allow his lawyer to appeal her ruling.