Goel Ratzon
Goel RatzonFlash 90

Goel Ratzon, 63, was convicted Monday of most of the counts of sexual abuse he was accused of, including rape and rape of a minor.

He was acquitted of the charge of enslavement.

Ratzon was arrested in 2010 and accused of being the leader of a harem cult with at least 17 wives, who gave birth to about 40 children. Other reports numbered the wives at 30 or more.

Ratzon did not work. Instead, his wives worked and brought home the money.

His wives were under his complete psychological control and revered him as a figure with mystical power. He made them tattoo his image on their arms and all of the children born to him were given names that contained part of his name.

He was accused of engaging in sexual relations with some of his wives when they were still minors.

The prosecution tried to convince the court that while none of the women was held by force, Ratzon enslaved them. The court, evidently, was not convinced.