Rabbi Pinto was arrested and interrogated • suspicion: bribery of 100 thousand dollars to a senior police officer

Rabbi Yeshaya Pinto and his wife, Devora Rivka, were questioned yesterday (Thursday) with a warning, - by the special investigation team, on suspicion of bribery and money laundering.

Israeli police announced that during recent weeks - a team from the Division of Investigation questioned the suspicion that Rabbi Yeshaya Pinto and his wife bribed and offered a large monetary sum to the police head investigations division, Brigadier General Rabbi Ephraim Bracha.

The purpose of the bribe was for, among other things, information related to an investigation of the organization "Chazon Yeshaya", being waged by Bracha.

The investigation was conducted by investigations chief General Yoav Segalovitch personally overseen by the Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino, due to sensitivity of the investigation.

The suspicion is that Rabbi Pinto offered Bracha 200 thousand dollars for information. Bracha reported on the offer to his commanders, who decided to direct the receipt of the money.

Bracha sent a team detective and recorded equipment, and received from Rabbi Pinto 100 thousand dollars in cash.

Yesterday Bracha was supposed to receive the extra $ 100 thousand, but by then the head of investigations ordered to stop the negotiations, and to stop the rabbi and his wife - and bring them in for questioning under caution.

They were interrogated for long hours at the Lahav headquarters 433 in Lod.

Pinto is known to be linked to millionaires and powerful people, and the associates are tycoons such as Ilan Ben Dov and Nochi Dankner.

"This is a serious incident in which there is evidence-based that Rabbi Pinto offered and paid a bribe to a very senior police officer. Rabbi Pinto and the Yeshiva as well as the organization are affected by money and no increase in the guarantees and conditions are to cure the real concern of evasion from investigation procedures, adjudication, or serving a prison term," said a police representative in court.

The police referred to the Rabbi Pinto's request to impose a gag order on the case. "Regarding the request for gag order – it is of utmost importance to bring the existence of the investigation to the public for the purpose of maintaining the rule of law, creating deterrence and public confidence in the police."

Judge Ita Nachman, Magistrate Justice Court in Rishon Lezion, decided to release the suspects to house arrest on the following conditions:

• Full house arrest for 15 days at home on Mount Zion 1 Ashdod.

• Suspect will stabilize as necessary to police and in court, and has been summoned on Sunday for questioning.

• All suspects arrested may not contact those involved in the investigation.

• All of the suspects will provide the self-commitment of a million shekels, and third party guarantee for the same amount, besides a cash deposit or bank guarantee of half a million.

• The prohibition order has imposed suspects from leaving the country for six months, and they are required to deposit their passports.
Rabbi Ephraim Bracha
Brigadier General Ephraim Bracha, is a senior officer of the police investigations, a religious person authorized by the Rabbinate and therefore is known throughout the police corridors as 'Rabbi'. He is third in rank in the hierarchy of the Police Investigation Unit and served as deputy head of the National Fraud. Bracha is a valued officer whose name has been mentioned as a candidate to command one of the national units of the Israel Police.

The story began several weeks ago, when Bracha told his commanders on experience about Rabbi Pinto's bribe to him. Pinto intended to hand over large sums of money, so he will give him information.

Following the information the interrogation wing decided the police must investigate undercover. General Yoav Siglovic was appointed head of the police investigation.

Yaron Lifschitz attorney from the Kaspi law firm representing Rabbi Pinto, said in response to the charges against his client:

"Rabbi Pinto answered all questions aimed at him by police investigators and told them all he knew in order to advance the investigation as quickly as possible and to refute the baseless allegations raised against him. Rabbi Pinto is confident that once the facts turn out to police investigators, they will understand that there was no defect in his actions."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!