The trial of the Jewish leaders of the “Central Office for Jews of Rumania,” which collaborated with the Nazi-dominated Antonescu Government in carrying out anti-Jewish orders, opened here today before a Peoples Court.
The four defendants, headed by Mander Ghingold, former head of the “Central Office,” are charged with extorting huge sums for the pro-Nazi Government and for themselves by threatening the Jews with deportation. They also participated in the arrangements for deportation of thousands of Rumanian Jews to Transnistria.
Radu Lecca, Commissioner for Jewish Affairs in the Antonescu Cabinet, will be tried in absentia shortly. Lecca was taken to Russia in Nov. 1944 and his present whereabouts are unknown.
Jewish leaders here, some of whom are expected to testify at the trial, have expressed surprise that the Government has begun trying the Jewish collaborators while many war criminals guilty of murdering tens of thousands of Jews have not yet been placed on trial.
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