Rabbi Eliezer Berland In Handcuffs: Breslov Hasidic Leader Gets 3 Month Prison Sentence In Zimbabwe, To Be Deported

FUGITIVE Israeli priest, Eliezer Berland (77), who was Tuesday convicted for violating the Zimbabwe's immigration laws, has been slapped with a three month prison sentence by Bulawayo senior magistrate Sibongile Msipa.

 

Rabbi Eliezer Berland (source)

AllAfrica.com reports:

FUGITIVE Israeli priest, Eliezer Berland (77), who was Tuesday convicted for violating the Zimbabwe's immigration laws, has been slapped with a three month prison sentence by Bulawayo senior magistrate Sibongile Msipa.

But the embattled but wealthy Rabbi was likely not to go to prison as the sentence had the option of a $200 fine.

In her ruling, the magistrate also ordered his immediate deportation, either soon after the completion of his jail sentence or after paying the fine.

Berland, who back home is facing several allegations of rape and sexual harassment, was arrested while holed up at a Bulawayo hotel and was charged with contravening a section of the country's immigration Act.

The law forbids "entering or remaining in the country without visitors entry certificate and remaining in the country".

Berland was arrested from his hideout at Bulawayo's Holiday Inn hotel by detectives from the Joshua Mqabuko Border Control, who were acting on a tip-off by unnamed citizens who had discovered he had overstayed in Zimbabwe.

His lawyer, Sindiso Mazibisa of Cheda and Partners said he was not happy with the sentence, arguing the offence was minor and could easily have been resolved between his client and the immigration officials without going through the humiliation of trial.

In mitigation, Mazibisa also submitted that his client was an internationally recognised religious leader of ill-health who was on medication.

He further said Berland well a married father of six who had refrained from committing any other crime during his stay in Zimbabwe.

The fugitive rabbi is reportedly wanted by Israeli police who want him to respond to allegations of rape and sexual abuse on his several female followers.

Berland arrived in Zimbabwe November last year under the guise of religious tourism and has been living in various upmarket city lodges and hotels.

He also been leading worship in a synagogue in Khumalo suburb.

Update 11:26 am CDT – Yeshiva World is reporting that Berland is now in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he expected to be detained and turned over to Israeli authorities, but was instead allowed to freely enter the country. However Yeshiva World does not report the sentence handed down in Zimbabwe and much related information.

Related:

All Rabbi Eliezer Berland Posts.

Comments

[WoolSilkCotton; I must be seen to be believed]

That photo is striking. Without the black costume, he looks like every other creep in handcuffs.

[jancsibacsi]

Wow finally he gets what he deserves,tottal humiliation.

[Yosef ben Matitya]

wonder where they will send him. morocco will not take him back. maybe to his country of origin Israel.

[Yosef ben Matitya]

oh! those disciples of the Be'sht.

[Allan]

His look reminds me of the depiction of God in Michaelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” in the Sistine Chapel (except for the handcuffs…) Clearly this “holy man” look did not help him before the Zimbabwean judge. I wonder if the jails there will allow him to get all the matzah and kosher l’Pesach food he will be demanding.

[RWisler]

I've decided to convert to hareidi'ism and become one of this guy's disciples. I'm magnetically attracted to his striking good looks.

Shmarya, perhaps you can post a slightly more flattering picture of harav hatzaddik hachosid hagadol Berland? Chassidim are always supposed to be "b'simcha". This photo clearly does not show him in a pose of "simcha".

[S M L]

Not only does he not look "b'simcha" he looks like "b'park bench".

[RabbiEML]

Shmarya, do you really get pleasure from this?

Regardless if Hagaon Hatzadik R' Berland is right or wrong!

You are Jewish but human, be respectful to another human, because he and you are humans.

This behavior shows that you are subhuman.

At the same time stop being obsessed with Gershon Barkany's Ponzi, you really have no idea where the money trail is, and who else is involved.

[dh]

SML, LOL! I was just thinking of drawing in a tattoo,

[dh]

RabbiEML, get a grip. He looks like Charles Manson. And shhhhh, be quiet. He's saying the prayer over the handcuffs.

[Devorah]

He looks like the homeless guy who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart.

[rebitzman - $101 to read my posts]

RabbiEML - how is your public condemnation of Shmarya (and name calling) any better than what you accuse him of?

I mean, other that the fact that you hide behind an alias?

[dh]

WSC - http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/04/08/2-burglars-arrested-after-pocket-dialing-police-at-scene/ See mugshot on the right and read.

[Eli, what me messiah?]

Zimbabwe...he must have ticked off someone in the government, probably by not paying whatever kick backs were expected to allow him to stay. But there are plenty of other places where a thousand bucks to a border guard will get you in. think Russia and CIS.

but at least he can no longer say, "I've been kicked out of worse countries than this."

[dh]

Funny.

You know, I bet Shmaryra doesn't even have the bad taste to use this photo from now on, instead of that bizarro impression of Eliezer Nixon. I hate that about Shmarya.

[JekyllJacobson]

Shmarya
Don't look in the mirror; it'll give you nightmares.

[David]

I'm curious about the t-shirt he is wearing, A chassid would not generally wear clothing of this color. And where is his kippah? He looks like an old hippie... I agree with Wool, it is a striking photo. Is there a worse shithole country than Zimbabwe that will take him?

[m]

great ! if the israeli gvt and the courts could not do anything to incarcerate this luny , I am delighted that he got jail sentence in zimbabwe .

I'd like to see how the jail system of zimbabwe is . for sure this rapist does not eat kosher in jail . lion meat , elephant meat and monkey meat , that's what he is eating . no special treatment .
the rapist has to comply with it .

that's the best punishment .

and what about the inmates ? ha !

it is berland 's turn to be raped by african inmates . it's worse than ny
jails . compared to the inmate population in africa , ny jails are Club Med .