The Rishon L’Tzion Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 14 Cheshvan 5773 partially lifted a gag order on a case involving an abduction and imprisonment of an avreich by members of the underworld.

The story begins about a week ago when the home of a well-known rav in Rechasim was broken into and $200,000 was stolen. The rav is reported to be affiliated with mosdos chinuch of the Shas party. The rav’s home is open to all, had just returned from a shlichus in Morocco. He was hosting a regular guest, an avreich from Yerushalayim who became a suspect in the rav’s eyes as having stolen the large sum of money.

It appears a member of the rav’s family, who has a relationship with members of the Nahariya Abutbul crime family turned to them for assistance in recovering the money. The gangsters came to Yerushalayim last week, found the avreich and forced him into a car and drove back to the Abutbul home in Netanya and placed him in the basement where he was bound, gagged and beaten. The avreich managed to make a run for it and called police for assistance. He was visibly injured with facial fractures and bruises over his head and entire body. He told police he was bound and gagged and literally tortured as they wished to learn where he put the stolen money, but he explained he never took any money.

Police have made eight arrests in the case to date and believe 15 people were involved. Among those arrested is the rav from Rechasim who they fear may have sent the underworld thugs to grab the avreich, believing he took the money. The names of those involved are still under the gag order with the exception of Mrs. Sonia Abutbul, the wife of Charlie Abutbul, who is viewed as the head of organized crime in Israel. Police are now looking for Charlie, who will also be placed under arrest.

Attorneys Yaniv Peretz and Chen Meiri are representing the Abutbul family members state their clients have no connection to the ongoing case.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)