Israel Police have completed their investigation and have recommended that Rabbi Chaim Yehuda Rabinovitch (also spelled and Rabinowich) be indicted on charges of fraud, breach of public trust, abuse of power and obstruction of justice.
Rabbi Chaim Yehuda Rabinovitch
Indict Senior Chabad State Rabbinical Court Judge For Fraud, Breach Of Public Trust, Abuse Of Power, And Obstruction Of Justice, Police Say
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Israel Police have completed their investigation and have recommended that Rabbi Chaim Yehuda Rabinovitch (also spelled and Rabinowich) be indicted on charges of fraud, breach of public trust, abuse of power and obstruction of justice Israel Radio and INN reported.
Rabinovitch, a Chabad hasid, is the av beit din (head) of the official state Jerusalem rabbinical court and is the father of the haredi rabbi of Kotel (Western Wall), Shmuel Rabinovitch.
In his role as rabbinic court judge, Rabinovitch allegedly improperly decided dozens of divorce cases in which his daughter, Gila Naftalin, or her husband Shaul Naftalin, both attorneys who work in Israel's rabbinic courts, represented one of the spouses. Rabinovitch allegedly illegally favored his daughter and son-in-law and threw cases in their favor.
Gila and Shaul Naftalin – both also Chabad hasidim – were arrested in February on charges that they stole millions of shekels from their clients’ trust funds.
Rabinowitch was also arrested in February, questioned under caution by police and released to restrictive house arrest.
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[Hat Tip: Joel Katz.]