Eyal Golan, Israel's most popular rock singer, has been detained on suspicion of statutory rape of underage girls and soft drug use with minors.
The singer, of Yemenite and Moroccan Jewish origins who sings in the Mizrahi eastern style, was released on house arrest last night after being questioned by police throughout the day. His father, a public relations manager, an employee and another singer were also detained.
Mr Golan (42), told the police investigators that he sleeps with many girls and did not known the girls in question were underage. He also denied claims he had used drugs together with the girls.
The police also searched the homes of all the suspects.
The scandal, dubbed “the famous singer and the underage sex affair”, had made banner headlines for more than a week, but until yesterday a gagging order prevented publication of Mr Golan’s name.
However, social media websites not only published Mr Golan’s name, but showed pictures of him together with young girls wearing bikinis.
The site of one prominent blogger was closed down for violating the gagging order.
After being taken into custody, Mr Golan agreed to suspend himself as a panel judge on one of Israel's most popular reality TV shows – Rising Star – as well as cancelling his own TV musical competition programme entitled Eyal Golan is Calling You.
The police, who questioned at least five girls in connection with the case, suspect that Mr Golan's father and others close to the star would locate girls, often during his shows, and take them to apartments for sex romps that included intercourse and drug use.
Sexual consent
Mr Golan is suspected of having sex with two 15-year-old girls. The minimum age for sexual consent under Israeli law is 16.
According to media reports last week, Mr Golan may have smoked marijuana with at least two girls with whom he had sex, and possibly engaged in group sex with several other underage girls.
Mr Golan is one of Israel’s most successful performers, earning almost €3 million a year, according to Israeli media reports. He was charged in the past with significant tax evasion.
The singer sent a message to his fans ahead of yesterday’s detention, denying the social media allegations.
“To all my fans and the people who love me, I am aware of the character assassination that is being done to me. All is well with me, praise God. I’m working, performing and partying. I love you all,” he wrote.
His lawyers stressed that the investigation was ongoing, but Mr Golan “believes in himself and his innocence”.
