JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel Police recommended that former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger be put on trial for bribery and fraud.
A special police unit completed a months-long investigation on Tuesday and forwarded the recommendation to the Jerusalem District prosecutor’s office. Israel’s attorney general, Yehuda Weinstein, will make a final decision on filing an indictment against Metzger.
The unit investigated Metzger in cooperation with the Israel Tax Authority, according to Ynet.
He is accused of accepting monetary and material bribes in exchange for advancing the interests of several nonprofit organizations. The amount of the bribes equals several million shekels, according to reports.
Metzger, who was arrested last November, reportedly also tried to silence witnesses and interfere in the investigation, according to reports.
In June 2013, shortly after the close of his 10-year term as chief rabbi, Metzger was placed under house arrest and interrogated. At the time, police also seized documents, computers and other materials from his home and office.
Metzger reportedly is banned from speaking to the media as the case advances.
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