Court extends remand of Tel Aviv man arrested for sex crimes

The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court on Thursday morning extended by four days the remand of a 28-year-old Tel Aviv resident who admitted to sexually assaulting six women.

Police arrested Ben-Tzion Tayeb in Tel Aviv on Wednesday after a young woman complained that he touched her breasts while cycling past her on the city's Yigal Alon Street.

During the subsequent investigation, Tayeb admitted to assaulting the woman, as well as to five other incidents of sexual assault, including a case in which a 15-year-old victim was hit by a car when she ran into the road in an attempt to escape. So far, six police complaints have been filed against him.

According to all the complaints, Tayeb assaulted his victims, touching their breasts or genitals, while passing them on his bicycle.

During the discussion over the remand extension, the suspect's attorney said that "he admitted to most of the charges," adding that "he is a man in need of therapy, is full of regret, and accepts responsibility. The suspect is a married man, and claims that he will never repeat [his crimes]."

The suspect personally expressed his remorse before the judge in the course of the remand proceedings.

In his decision to extend the remand, the presiding judge wrote that "the misdeeds attributed to Tayeb are grave ones, and indicate that he is dangerous."