"Unprecedented corruption" • 9 days detention for Rabbi Metzger

Arrest of the former chief rabbi, Rabbi Yona Metzger, extended nine days at the request of the police. Rabbi Metzger suspected of offenses of bribery and personal use of funds intended to help various organizations while lavish lifestyle management and exploitation of his position. He is suspected to pocket millions of dollars this way.

Representative Police Superintendent Asaf Walfish, said at the hearing to extend the detention of the Rabbi, that the serious allegations relating to suspect while serving in public office, as heading the Israeli rabbinate. This is an extensive and complex investigation managed by unit 433. The findings paint a dismal picture that Rabbi received bribes fees and other illicit funds, and as the investigation progresses - are going to turn out to unprecedented dimensions. This is the sum total of million in cash, paid to Rabbi Metzger ten years. These actions and motives of the suspect, the suspect embodies public corruption, damage to public trust and power.

He said the investigation is extended when on 20/06/13 Rabbi Yona Metzger was arrested along with others involved and released under restrictive conditions. Since then, the Unit continued its work investigating, undercover smooth and seamless visible, and its products necessitated the application of the current threshold – court.

Police representative also claimed that formed the factual basis for the rabbi, moved to the stage of reasonable suspicion. "The suspect for a number of investigations chooses not to remember about the events he was asked about them, as well as placing the responsibility on others. Behavior impedes the progress of the investigation at the truth. 10 days in detention are days in detention arbitrary tailored for investigation and other actions requiring the arrest of the suspect, so asked House - Court accede to our request concerning the number of days requested in full. "

Rabbi himself told the hearing:"This morning I arrived at seven in the morning they came to my house, searched, they took me to the police, of course without notice. When I arrived I asked the officer what happened, why did you arrest me, and he said this morning you'll know why. I'm seven hours in hand, from seven am until now, I have not been asked one question in one subject which was not asked about in the past, chewing the same material from different sides and Jew standing with a dome on the head, into the middle of the investigation, he tells me ' you use on the island of your memories, we'll have you arrested' So the detention is to refresh my memory? "

Attorney David Libai rabbi's lawyer, said: "Since the Chief Rabbi stabilized always questioning and answered questions, he should not answer questions admission, but also that he did not remember. I'm surprised that it is impossible to investigate the sudden turn when he is at home with all the guarantees required, and I ask that continued investigation will be supervised by a court. Seek to accede to the request when it left the hands of the researchers suspect, I have no complaints against them, but I wish that the investigation will be supervised by a - law , individual days or ten days and explain that I am afraid the rabbi 's health and well being."

During the hearing, Libai asked police delegate: "Did you catch his bank accounts, these accounts were NIS 200,000, vault there were 10,000 NIS. You can say to the court - where are the millions of Metzger? "And was told that the answer lies in court".

Justice Menachem Mizrachi decided: "Given the nature of the investigation, the scope and nature of disruption have already been taken, their request was modest. At this stage of the discussion required court level evidence that a reasonable suspicion only, what was presented to me amount to prima facie evidence of the right, which are above and beyond what is required at this early. "

"There is a reasonable suspicion that the offenses attributed suspicious. Among other things I draw on the voluminous confidential reports. Exists a real element disrupt release of suspect interrogation procedure. I trust this unusual document his own outsider ship, each spring the roasted two ears. Request is to extend the detention ten days, and given the nature of the investigation, its scope, the nature of disruption have already been taken, it is a modest request. "

Rabbi Metzger in Court: Photography: Flash 90

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!