Israeli police raid home of country’s chief rabbi amid bribery investigation

Associated Press in Jerusalem
The Guardian, Thursday 20 June 2013

Israeli police say they have questioned the country’s chief rabbi and raided his home and office over his alleged involvement in a bribery and money-laundering scheme.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that Thursday’s probe of Rabbi Yona Metzger followed a months-long undercover investigation into his financial dealings. Rosenfeld said police confiscated computers and documents from the rabbi’s home and arrested three associates.

Metzger is weeks away from ending his 10-year term as the country’s chief rabbi for Ashkenazi, or European-descended, Jews.

Along with a separate chief rabbi from the Sephardic or Middle Eastern lineage, Metzger has led the country’s supreme body for overseeing Jewish services.

The Chief Rabbinate had no comment. In 2005, Metzger was questioned over fraud allegations. No charges were filed.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/20/israeli-police-raid-home-chief-rabbi?CMP=twt_fd

Categories: Asia, Israel

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