An Israeli rabbi who fled to Brazil amid child-abuse allegations is likely to be extradited for trial.
Israeli police said Wednesday they had asked Brazil to extradite Rabbi Elior Chen, 29, who turned himself in to police in Sao Paulo.
Israel had issued an international arrest warrant for Chen, who is alleged to have counseled his followers to severely beat and burn children in order to rid them of the devil. Other children allegedly were forced to drink alcohol and turpentine until they vomited.
Some of the abuses have resulted in serious and life-threatening injuries. One toddler remains in a vegetative state.
Chen previously was said to be hiding in Canada.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.