Yoel Azarzar, the Deputy Mayor of the posh Israeli City of Ra’anana, was
arrested yesterday on suspicion of taking bribes for approval of local
building and business projects, money laundering – and for the alleged embezzlement of
funds from a local hevra kadisha (burial society). Azarzar, a member of the Sefardi haredi Shas Party, denies all the charges against him.
Yoel Azarzar
Haredi Mayor Arrested For Alleged Public Corruption, Money Laundering, And Embezzlement – From A Hevra Kadisha
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Yoel Azarzar, a member of the Sefardi haredi Shas politcal party and the Deputy Mayor of the posh Israeli City of Ra’anana, was arrested yesterday on suspicion of taking bribes for approval of local building and business projects, money laundering – and for the alleged embezzlement of funds from the local hevra kadisha (burial society).
Azarzar was is accused of using deception to collect three different full time salaries every year that add up to to 1 NIS ($273,000) annually.
Azarzar allegedly listed himself as the hebvra kadisha’s CEO, its head of development and its undertaker and drew full time salaries for each position.
He also allegedly mismanaged he’vra kadisha finances by investing and losing over NIS 2.5 million ($628,000) in what Israel Hayom calls “shady real estate deals” in Riga, Latvia.
Azarzar denies all the charges against him.
The case “is simply a politically driven campaign by police to destroy my client,” Azarzar’s attorney told the Jerusalem Post .
Israel has had a large number of mayors and other senior local public officials arrested and indicted for public corruption in recent months.
Azarzar – whose remand was extended by the Rishon L’Tzion Magistrate’s Court until he faces another remand hearing on Sunday – is the most recent in that undistinguished line.
[Hat Tip: Jacob Mendlovic.]