Jerusalem police have reportedly arrested arrested seven haredim for allegedly
committing fraud and money laundering. Six of the arrested live in the
town of Beitar Illit; the seventh lives in the the Jerusalem
neighborhood of Mea Shearim.
Updated 8:32 pm CDT
7 Haredim Arrested For Alleged Money Laundering, Fraud
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Jerusalem police have arrested arrested seven haredim for allegedly committing fraud and money laundering. Six of the arrested live in the town of Beitar Illit; the seventh lives in the the Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Shearim, Ynet reported.
The men are all reportedly associated with the Shuvu Banim Breslov hasidic sect. The sect's leader, Rabbi Eliezer Berland, has been hiding in Morocco after fleeing Israel. Berland is accused of sexually abusing female followers, including several minor girls.
The seven arrested hasidim allegedly committed tax fraud and money laundering to fund Shuvu Banim institutions and, perhaps, Berland's upkeep.
Police reportedly said more arrests are expected.
In New York City today, a senior Breslov activist, Joseph "Yossi" Roth, was implicated in a alleged criminal scheme carried out by the former head of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, William Rapfogel.
Rapfogel was fired by the Met Council late last week after it was made aware of the criminal investigation into Rapfogel by New York State's Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.