Alleged crime boss Shalom Domrani was indicted today along with two alleged coconspirators – including an aide to a senior Sefardi haredi rabbi – on charges of extortion, elections fraud, conspiracy to commit a felony and obstruction of justice for trying to throw the Netivot municipal elections held late last month
Shalom Domrani
Alleged Crime Boss, Haredi Rabbi’s Assistant, Indicted In Extortion And Election Fraud Case
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Alleged crime boss Shalom Domrani was indicted today along with two alleged coconspirators on charges of extortion, elections fraud, conspiracy to commit a felony and obstruction of justice for trying to throw the Netivot municipal elections held late last month, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Along with Domrani – who is Orthodox – indictments were filed against Moomi Kasantini Emanuel Elisha. Elisha is a senior aide to senior Sefardi haredi Rabbi Yoram Abergel, who himself was arrested earlier this month within hours of Domrani and several of his men.
The indictment reportedly charges that Domrani threatened Netivot Rabbi Ya’acov Ifergan, commonly known as the X-Ray Rabbi, after Ifergan refused to endorse Domrani’s candidate for mayor. The indictment also reportedly says that the discord between Ifergan and Abergel – both major Sefardi haredi rabbis – has in some cases led to violence.
The indictment charges that on election day, after a brief meeting with Abergel, Elisha told Domrani to threaten Ifergan's followers with violence unless they immediately stopped campaigning for the rival candidate. Domrani allegedly quickly called Ifergan's wife to set up an immediate meeting with Ifergan.
Domrani and Kasantini met with Ifergan and Domrani allegedly told Ifergan that they had come because Ifergan was "harming Rabbi Abergil" through his support of the candidate Abergel opposed, and ordered Ifergan to stop campaigning for that candidate immediately.
Domrani allegedly noted that "there are ways to deal with this" behavior from Ifergan, but promised that if Ifergan stopped "harming Rabbi Abergil,” Domrani "would protect" him.
These threats allegedly caused Ifergan to hire armed bodyguards for himself and his family.
A magistrate’s court had ordered Domrani released to house arrest last week, but was overruled by the district court.
Domrani remains in custody.
Abergel was released to house arrest early last week. His role in the affair is still being investigated.