RIO DE JANEIRO, July 5 (JTA) Brazilian police were searching this week for an Israeli diplomat suspected of hosting child prostitution sessions after they found pictures of nude teen-age girls allegedly taken at his apartment.
Israeli officials said they are recalling Arie Scher to investigate the matter.
The search for Scher, 35, who served the Israeli government in China for two years before coming to Rio de Janeiro, came after George Steinberg, a local Hebrew teacher, accused Scher after police said they found pornographic videos and more than 100 pictures of young girls in compromising positions at Steinberg’s house Tuesday morning.
Police searched Steinberg’s home after a 17-year-old girl said Steinberg, 40, took a photo of her naked and posted it on an Internet site.
Scher fled his house instead of relying on diplomatic immunity just minutes before police searched his apartment without a warrant.
The single diplomat, who was very popular with the Jewish community, allegedly took his computer with him.
The Jewish community is shocked at the alleged involvement of Steinberg in the incident, which received huge play in the Brazilian media.
Rio de Janeiro is the center of Brazil’s child pornography industry.
