Police: Rabbi of Haifa to stand for trial for bribery

The National Fraud (Fraud Squad), who has just completed an investigation on several alleged incidents involving Rabbi Shlomo Shalosh, who serves as Haifa's chief rabbi and head of the rabbinical courts in the North (Rab"d).

The investigation began in 2010, following a complaint "IRAC", based on the State Comptroller's Report for 2008 and the investigation of "Yediot Aharonot".

On 10th Av תשע"ב confirmed Attorney General to investigate Rabbi Shalosh, after examining the material that was presented.

The investigation material shows that the Rabbi granted kosher certificates unlawfully to factories that were at the same time significant contributors to the "Morshe" organization. In addition, it is suspected that the rabbi made improper use his authority to compel the appointment of cronies for jobs at businesses they oversaw. Moreover, the rabbi allegedly was involved with associates, trying to blackmail an employee in Haifa religious council, in power struggles between the council and himself.

The recommendations of R. Lahav, R. fraud squad and the investigation team were adopted that was an evidentiary basis against the Rabbi of bribery offenses, fraud and breach of trust, abuse of office and violations of the law prohibiting fraud of Kashrus.

Investigations will be transferred to Haifa District Prosecutor's Office for review and decision.

Background

The investigation began in 2010, following a complaint "IRAC", based on the State Comptroller's Report for 2008 and the investigation "Yediot Aharonot".

In Tammuz Tsha"b Chief Rabbi of Haifa, Rabbi Shlomo Shalosh and his associates received threatening messages from anonymous factors who sent letters and threatening phone calls: "You're playing with fire. You know, you and your rabbi, you're playing with fire", said one of the voices on the threatening phone call recorded and transferred to the police." We will not forget nor forgive; your end is near like Benny Hasse, "reads a letter sent to the office of Rabbi Shalosh.

Following the threats which came to the bureau chief rabbi of Haifa - Rabbi Shlomo Shalosh ordered the police commissioner for tight security.

"These are people who want to thwart the footsteps of the Rabbi in the Kashrus system," said at the time an associate of the Rabbi, Shlomo Pearl. "Following the organizational changes made in kashrus, the situation became that the system is directly under the supervision of Rabbi Shalosh - and people do not like it."

"The auditor's reports were the failures that occur in the kashrus system in the city, people paid black money under the table to get a kosher certificate. The Rabbi decided to act and exercise his powers, and so they decide to bite him in any way to block him."

On 10th Av תשע"ב confirmed Attorney General to investigate Rabbi Shalosh, after examining the material that was presented.

It is suspected that the rabbi had for years, received bribes from business owners in the city, occupied the associates - and in return gave them a kosher certificate.
A month later, two associates of Rabbi Shalosh, Shlomi Pearl, personal assistant of Rabbi and attorney Shimon Perez - were arrested by fraud squad investigators. This is on the suspicion for a long time the associates of Rabbi Shalosh, would follow one of the seniors in the religious council. After that they filmed material against him, relating to his private life, they threatened him: "Bring us incriminating material against Chairman Avi Weizman and director of Kashrus Rabbi Abuchatzeira and we will not publish your photos." The senior who they attempted to extort, recorded conversations and recording material and transferred them to the fraud squad investigators who opened an investigation. A few days later, the two associates were released, under restrictive conditions.

On 5th Elul תשע"ב, Rabbi Shlomo Shalosh, was questioned under caution in the northern extension of the Fraud Squad - Blade 334 on suspicions of different position.

With an investigation against Rabbi in 2011, said his attorney, attorney Tammy Ullman, "a source of complaints against the Rabbi is because of complaints about threats and demand to reform the kashrus department. He gets full backing from the Chief Rabbinate."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!