Bolivia's presidential unit guards Estreicher

The arrest last week of the Bolivian government officials suspected of involvement in the affair of Yaakov Estreicher, led to threats on the life of the Haredi businessman from Boro Park, imprisoned in the state, from factors close to the defendants.

Bolivia's security forces set up by order of the president, next to Estreicher's room, who is currently hospitalized at the Santa Cruz hospital, armed guards from the elite security unit of the President of Bolivia. These provided a bulletproof vest which Estreicher is wearing. Only permanent medical staff caring for him, are allowed into Estreicher's room. "Even the police officers or prison guards are not allowed to enter the room, fearing that someone might mask himself as an officer and try to kill him," Estreicher's associates relate.

The family claim that senior government officials were arrested last week who belong to the local mafia. The detainees were charged with, among other things, an attempt to extort money from Estreicher in exchange for his release from prison. "The working assumption is that the heads of the mafia will try to kill Estreicher, to prevent him from testifying against the detainees," said a senior functionary in an organization for the release of prisoners, who is active for the release of Estreicher. He said the Bolivian President is closely following developments in matters of the Hareidi prisoner because of the involvement of American senators and governors of foreign countries, who spoke with the president in his favor.

"The last thing Bolivia's president wants now, is that someone would kill Estreicher," says the activist. "This is why the president demanded that only the president's security unit will secure the room."

Six top government officials were arrested on suspicion of attempted blackmail of the Hareidi prisoner, who has been imprisoned in Bolivia for a year and a half without trial. Among those detained is the judge who detained him, a year and a half ago. The central detainee is a senior minister in the state, suspected of selling dozens of tons of rice which were in Estreicher's warehouses, and were confiscated by the authorities. Allegedly the minister blackmailed Estreicher, promising to work for his release from prison.

State prosecutor updated Estreicher about the arrest and revealed that in the coming days there will be more arrests. He claimed that 11 officials are suspected of violating authority in the case and trial of Estreicher.

Family members are appealing to the public and seek to continue to pray for the recovery and rapid release of Yaakov Yehuda Ben Sheindel.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!