By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - A case involving allegations of child sexual abuse against a former leading pro-Israel lobbyist and ex-Free Democratic Party lawmaker has sparked a debate about transparency in Germany's justice system, press reports said Monday.

At the heart of the criticism is the fact that proceedings against Hartmut Ebbing were held behind closed doors out of consideration for his lobbyist role in the German-Israeli Society (DIG).

According to a report published by weekly Die Zeit, Ebbing had argued that a public hearing could harm the pro-Israel organization, reasoning the court reportedly accepted before barring the public from attending.

Ebbing was a member of the DIG's executive board and served as its treasurer. The politician was reportedly on trial on charges of sexually abusing a seven-year-old child in 2021.

According to the reports, Ebbing, who was 65 at the time, met a primary school teacher from Goslar through a dating platform and visited her at her apartment. The alleged abuse took place there while her seven-year-old child was taking a bath, according to the prosecution. Ebbing denies the allegations.

He had previously been sentenced to probation in Berlin for the possession and distribution of child pornography, a verdict later incorporated into a combined sentence of two years and 10 months.