PID investigating Rabbi Mugrabi over allegedly taking kickbacks for presiding over family events.
By REBECCA ANNA STOILpolice crowd 298.88(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Allegations of corruption in the police have already reached high levels, with top corruption-busters and even the country's former top cop among the suspects. On Sunday a new name was added when it was revealed that the Justice Department's Police Investigative Department (PID) is investigating the Israel Police's chief rabbi, Dep.-Cmdr. Rabbi Eliyahu Mugrabi, under suspicion of receiving illegal kickbacks for presiding over family events.
Mugrabi, who was questioned at least once by investigators, has been for several weeks the subject of a PID probe into numerous incidents in which he allegedly received money to preside over circumcisions and weddings.
He is also suspected of acting as a go-between in deals between owners of ritual objects shops and police officers, receiving valuable gifts from shop owners, and for accepting "repentance money" before the High Holy Days under the claim that he was donating the money to charity. In at least one case, Mugrabi is suspected of using his position within the police to intimidate a victim into compliance.
People close to the rabbi dismissed the charges as vicious rumors, spread by people who are jealous of his success.
Mugrabi was appointed just over a year ago, by former Israel Police Insp.-Gen. Moshe Karadi. He previously served as the chief rabbi of the Jerusalem Police District and of the Border Police.
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