Report: Wide-Ranging Criminal Indictment To Be Filed Against Former Haredi Chief Rabbi

By Shmarya Rosenberg
Failed Messiah
August 31, 2014

http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2014/08/report-wide-ranging-criminal-indictment-to-be-filed-against-former-haredi-chief-rabbi-123.html

Israel’s state prosecution will soon file a wide-ranging criminal indictment, pending a hearing, against former Ashkenazi haredi Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger, Arutz Sheva reported based on a report by Israel’s Channel 10 News.

Metzger was arrested in November on fraud, embezzlement bribery, money laundering and breach of public trust charges and stepped down as chief rabbi shortly afterward.

He allegedly took millions of shekels through bribes and embezzlement from charities he controlled or worked with.

Metzger had a long history of sexual abuse and fraud allegations before he was elected chief rabbi 11 years ago in a back room deal orchestrated by the former top Ashkenazi haredi rabbi, Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, who passed away two years ago. After the election, Elyashiv admitted to Shmarya Rosenberg through a spokesperson that he knew the details of the accusations against Metzger before backing him but backed him anyway in order to “return the glory to the Chief Rabbinate.”