The unjustified prosecution of SCHI founder Rabbi Osher Eisemann appears to be finally over after nearly a decade, after Judge Joseph Paone threw his new trial out before it could reach the jury.
In explaining his decision to toss the case, the judge cited the prosecution’s total inability to show a morsel of evidence that Rabbi Eisemann committed any crime, determining that the case should not even be decided by a jury. The prosecution cannot appeal the ruling, so the case is over.
From the very onset, the prosecution’s case was splintering. Their opening witness – the lead detective who ran the investigation into SCHI – admitted under cross examination that there had been no crime, and each subsequent witness either confirmed that or said they were not involved in the case.
It quickly become clear that the case against the revered SCHI founder was a senseless vendetta against an upstanding man – a prosecution in search of a nonexistent crime.
On Tuesday, the defense concluded their cross-examination of the state’s final witness, as the state tried to rehabilitate their failing prosecution. After the prosecution rested, the defense filed a motion for the judge to dismiss the case, as the state has so far failed to prove any criminal activity. The judge began hearing the motion about 40 minutes before the court session was set to close. On Wednesday morning, additional arguments were made and the judge granted the motion, bringing the case to a close.
The case revolved around a 12-day loan from the school, which the prosecution claimed was used to promote another crime. However, it had already been established that the loan was made using private funds, not government money, and the lead detective has testified that such a loan was permissible. Furthermore, the second alleged criminal act, a loan write-down, was disputed by the bookkeeper who made the transaction, who explained that it was a simple bookkeeping maneuver, not an attempt to erase a debt.
Forensic audits ordered by the commerce department of the attorney general’s office have also shown that no loan balance existed between Rabbi Eisemann and the foundation, and that the foundation actually owed Rabbi Eisemann money.
Despite this, the justice department refused to consider these audits, disastrously clinging to their theory of a loan and attempted write-down.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
13 Responses
Can he sue for the exorbitant court costs?
The appeal for money is over.
חסדי ה’ כי לא תמנו כי לא כלו רחמיו
Now we want the גאולה שלמה.
הודו לד’ כי טוב כי לעולם חסדו
B”h.
The question now remains whether it is advisable for Rav Eisemann to continue actively running the great institution as he had since the vendetta remains and the bitterness of the prosecution has likely only become more embolden since he was made to seem so foolish. Will he then try to nit-pick just to prove his legitimacy?
הלכה היא וידוע שעשו שונא את יעקב
Boruch Hashem
There has to be consequences for evil prosecutors who ruin peoples lives for points on their record, vendettas or nefarious reasons
Prosecutors who caused so much pain especially for such a prolonged time of 10 years and so much financial loss to an innocent man should be punished severely
“From the very onset, the prosecution’s case was splintering. Their opening witness – the lead detective who ran the investigation into SCHI – admitted under cross examination that there had been no crime, and each subsequent witness either confirmed that or said they were not involved in the case.”
“Despite this, the justice department refused to consider these audits, disastrously clinging to their theory of a loan and attempted write-down.”
With all the serious problems with corruption in the Garden State, THIS is what prosecutors have been so busy with for 8 years??? Is this what keeps blacks from being gunned down in Camden?! Blacks is public housing in Camden can all sleep safely now, knowing that some innocent Orthodox Jew in Lakewood is being tormented. Sure, makes a lot of sense.
Btw, Democrat Governor Phil Murphy could have ended this charade years ago with a little phone call.
Sue the prosecutors for malicious prosecution and the 10 mill in legal fees!!
Bklyntrucker ,
You keep showing what a sonei yisroel you are. Shame on you. Sham charges can be brought against anyone – yourself and your family included. Hashem knows who “Bklyntrucker” is. I only know he is a sonei yisroel, most likely a self hating bitter one.
B’H!
Now he needs to sue these evil prosecutors for every nickel spent on defense as well as the defamation and pain of enduring an almost decade long sham case. If even the state acknowledges there is no merit to this case, then there needs to be consequences for those that brought it against him.
In a few years the prosecutor will be eligible to run for President of United States 🇺🇸 of America.