By YAAKOV LAPPINerez efrati 248.88(photo credit: Channel 10)
The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court on Wednesday lifted a gag order that prohibited publication of the name and image of the bodyguard of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, who is suspected of attempting to rape a woman in Tel Aviv's port area last week.
The suspect has been named as Capt. Erez Efrati, aged 30, of Moshav Batzra in the Sharon district.
Efrati is a member of the IDF's elite personal security unit. In the coming days, he will charged with attempted rape and the attempted sodomizing of a woman, which allegedly occurred after he left a strip club in which he celebrated his own bachelor party.
Police had reduced initial charge of sodomizing a victim to attempted sodomizing earlier this week. Last week, forensic DNA lab tests concluded that Efrati's semen was recovered from the crime scene.
During a remand hearing held for Efrati last week, Judge Avihai Doron said firm evidence exists to link him to the sexual assault, and cited an eyewitness to the incident.
Efrati continues to deny all charges. He and his fiance have called off their wedding, which was meant to take place last week, but she continues to declare Efrati's innocence.
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