Israeli Judge Aided Prostitution Ring - Sparks Controversy
A media investigation revealed that Judge Yekaterina Tsvetkov Dorfman, appointed in 2021, gave testimony in 2013 describing how she assisted a friend later convicted of brothel-running.
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Israel’s Judicial system is facing a storm of embarrassment after reports linking a sitting judge to a decade-old prostitution case.
According to an i24News investigation, Judge Yekaterina Tsvetkov Dorfman, who has served on the bench since 2021, gave testimony in 2013 during a criminal probe. In it, she described helping a friend, Einat Harel, who was later convicted multiple times for pimping and running brothels. The testimony suggested active exposure to brothel operations including visits, raising concerns of possible obstruction of justice or facilitation of illegal activity.
The revelations have fueled debate about how judicial candidates are screened. Tsvetkov, once a criminal defense attorney, was appointed despite this testimony being on record.
Observers question whether vetting bodies adequately reviewed her background before confirming her appointment.
In a statement, Judge Tsvetkov Dorfman strongly rejected the allegations, stressing that her work prior to 2021 was legal advocacy: “As a lawyer, I assisted women in the cycle of prostitution, advised them of their rights, and represented them as needed. I am proud of this work. Before my appointment to the bench, I ended this activity.”