Police arrest five Jerusalem rabbinate employees

According to the police, Sunday’s arrests were made after the completion of an undercover investigation by the Jerusalem fraud department.

By JEREMY SHARON
Updated: JULY 10, 2016 23:56
Handcuffs [Illustrative] (photo credit: INIMAGE)
Handcuffs [Illustrative]
(photo credit: INIMAGE)
Investigators from the Jerusalem Police fraud department arrested or detained five employees of the Jerusalem rabbinate on Sunday morning, on suspicion of fraud and breach of trust.
The Jerusalem Police and the Jerusalem City Comptroller have been conducting several investigations into various allegations of fraud and misconduct within the Jerusalem rabbinate over the last 12 months.
According to the police, Sunday’s arrests were made after the completion of an undercover investigation by the fraud department.
The police also searched homes belonging to several rabbinate workers, and the Jerusalem rabbinate office, seizing documents, computers and media equipment.
The arrests and seizures on Sunday are thought to be in connection to several alleged irregularities within the Jerusalem local religious council, which is responsible for religious services in the city.
In particular, allegations surfaced about Jerusalem rabbinate employees receiving various benefits from service providers to the body.
As reported by The Jerusalem Post, the police have also recently investigated alleged corruption within the kashrut department of the Jerusalem rabbinate, and possible breach of trust and conflict of interest violations in connection to the awarding of contracts by the rabbinate and employment decisions within it.