Metzger prisoners released • house arrest for Zioni and Krakowski, Eisenstadt remains in jail

Central District Court today (Monday) discussed the case of the three suspects - so far the only detainees – in the alleged bribery affair attributed to the Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Yona Metzger.

Suspects are: Rabbi Simcha Krakowski, director of charitable organizations 'Beit Hatavshil' Bnei Brak, suspected of money laundering and bribery, Nissan Ben-Zion Zioni, director of seminary for training rabbis and Dayanim in Tel Aviv and Chaim Eisenstadt, driver and personal assistant of the chief rabbi on suspicion of taking bribes, fraud and breach of trust, and money laundering.

By the court decision, Rabbi Simcha Krakowski and Nissan Ben-Zion Zioni, were released to house arrest for ten days. But the arrest of Chaim Eisenstadt, driver and personal assistant of the Chief Rabbi – was extended. The house arrest of Rabbi Metzger himself was extended by three days too - in agreement.

Judge Yaron Levy decided to release the suspects Rabbi Simcha Krakowski and Nissan Ben-Zion Zioni under the following conditions:

- Full house arrest for 10 days from today.

- Suspects may go from house arrest subject to prior written coordination with the investigative unit for medical treatment, or to meet with their representatives.

- They are prohibited from any contact with anyone other than my immediate family members or minors or persons whose names have been approved in advance by the investigating unit only. They are also forbidden to leave the country for 180 days.

- Cash deposit or bank guarantee of 50,000 NIS.

- Regarding the Rabbi's driver, Chaim Eisenstadt, the judge ordered the detention hearing until 06/30/2013.

Attorney Gil Eshet representing Eisenstadt said in a conversation with Behadrey Haredim: "I opposed the continued detention of my client. I think after that Rabbi Metzger and two other suspects were released for house arrest it was appropriate to release my client too. The court viewed the report submitted by the police not exposed to me. Tonight I will decide whether to file an appeal against the decision tomorrow. "

Attorney Amit Haddad and Attorney Dov Weinroth from the law firm of attorney Yaakov Weinroth, representing Rabbi Simcha Krakowski said in response to Behadrey Haredim: "Rabbi Simcha Krakowski is a real man of chessed, he has a wonderful reputation and unfortunately due to incorrect information which reached the police, his name showed in the case that we really hope will prove baseless. In any case the release of Rabbi Krakowski to house arrest is the beginning of understanding by the police of his integrity. We hope that in a few weeks after appropriate inquiry, the police will find its suspicions against him are baseless."

Attorneys Shimon Dolan and Sarig Damari, from Dolan - Damari - Matityahu representing Rabbi Nissan Ben-Zion Zioni said in response to Behadrey Haredi: "We welcome the release of Rabbi Zioni, a charity and kindness personality, who has significant Torah activities which is well known in the community. We wish to express our appreciation to the police for its consent to release him before the scheduled date. Our understanding is that there was no base for arrest in the first place, given that our client is not connected in any allegations published and attributed to him by mistake. We will conduct the defense with the authorities and not through the media, but we rely on the professionalism of the investigating authority and are confident that our client's innocence will quickly become apparent. "

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!