Egypt’s Jewish community head disappears

July 25, 2010

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- The president of Egypt's Jewish community has allegedly fled the country after being convicted of fraud and ordered to prison.

Carmen Weinstein, 82, was convicted last week by an Egyptian court and sentenced to three years in prison, as well as fines and restitution totaling more than $8,000.

Weinstein was convicted of selling an Egyptian businessman a Jewish community building that did not belong to her and then refusing to return his money. Weinstein said documents proving she had sold the building for 3 million Egyptian pounds, or $520,000, were forged.

Egyptian security sources have not been able to find her, Ynet reported Sunday.

The Jewish community secretary, Rauf Fuad Tawfiq, told Ynet that Weinstein had gone to visit the United States days before the ruling, and that she intended to return.

Weinstein heads a Jewish community of only dozens of members, most of whom are women. According to the Jerusalem Post, she rents out a few buildings to support the community.

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Egypt’s Jewish community head disappears

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