Ex-Israeli chief rabbi Yona Metzger indicted for corruption

Former Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger was indicted on multiple charges of corruption Tuesday.

In the indictment filed by the Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office, Metzger was charged with fraud, theft, conspiracy, breach of trust, money laundering, tax offenses and accepting bribes.

The indictment followed a hearing in which Metzger’s attorney argued against the charges. It had been announced originally in February, when Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein notified him that he would face trial.

Metzger is accused of accepting some NIS 10 million ($2.58 million) in bribes — keeping NIS 7 million ($1.8 million) for himself while paying the rest to accomplices and charitable organizations.

Chaim Eisenstadt, Metzger’s driver, received the bribes, according to the indictment.

Metzger is accused of profiting from donations directed to charitable causes and of taking bribes to sway his opinion on matters he decided as chief rabbi.

He completed his 10-year term as chief rabbi in July 2013. Metzger was arrested and questioned a month before his term ended and released.

Metzger was voted into the prestigious position in 2003, thanks to the support of the senior ultra-Orthodox rabbinical authority at the time.

In 2005, he was questioned on suspicion of receiving benefits from a hotel in Jerusalem in return for favors, and police recommended he be tried for fraud and breach of trust.

But the attorney general at the time, fearing an unsuccessful prosecution, decided against indicting him.

Instead, he wrote a scathing report about Metzger, accusing him of lying to police, and recommending that he resign immediately.

Times of Israel Staff contributed to this report.