Acquitted: Case against Rabbi Yoram Abergel closed

South County Prosecutor's Office announced today (Wednesday) to the representative of Rabbi Yoram Abergel that the case is closed against him on grounds of insufficient evidence in the extortion case of elections for mayor of Netivot.

One of Rabbi Abergel's lawyers, Attorney Amit Haddad, said of the decision: "We are delighted and appreciate the professionalism of the prosecution which examined the totality of the evidence and came to the most appropriate conclusion."

Five months ago, on the seventh of Kislev when Rabbi Yoram Abergel was at Ben Gurion Airport on his way to China, where he was expected to deliver lessons, he was arrested on suspicion of extortion during the mayoral elections in Netivot.

The Rabbi was detained for about a week and a half, when his followers demonstrated in several locations across the country, and dozens were arrested for disorderly conduct. After 14 days, the rabbi was allowed to return to the city.

As part of that case, the head of the criminal organization Shalom Domrani was indicted and his partner, Mumi Kastantini, and against the assistant of Rabbi Abergel, Emmanuel Elisha. The Prosecutor's Office noted that this case continues in the Beersheba District Court.

The affair took place against the background of elections in Netivot between incumbent Mayor Yehiel Zohar, who was supported the Rabbi Abergel, and the candidate Eyal Mesika supported by Rabbi Yaakov Ifergan (the 'X-ray'). The split between the rabbis created serious tension and at times even violence throughout the campaign.

Police attributed counts of extortion and interference with elections to the Rabbi. It is suspected that during the last elections for mayor, the rabbi along with others extorted by threats several people who worked for the candidate Eyal Messika. The police intercepted a conversation between the rabbi's assistant and Domrani in which a message was passed to threaten Rabbi Yaakov Ifergan.

But as noted, the South County Prosecutor's Office announced the closure of the case against him on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!