Rabbi Chaim Eisenstatt, who serves as driver and aide to Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger, was released to house arrest on Thursday,19 Tammuz 5773. Eisenstatt appears to be the main suspect in an unfolding investigation alleging the chief rabbi and others are guilty of tax evasion, breach of trust and fraud. Eisenstatt was arrested over a week ago and remanded, but the court now decided to permit him to remain under house arrest in the home of his brother in the community of Yesodot.

The house arrest was set for 15 days, during which he is prohibited from speaking to anyone related to the case for two month and he is barred from leaving the country for 180 days. He was required to put up a 50,000 NIS bond which will be lost if he violates the house arrest. He is however permitted to travel to Ramat Gan to meet with his attorney providing he notifies officials in advance of any such meetings.

Rabbi Metzger was also released to house arrest with senior officials involved in the case telling the media “we would not have arrested a chief rabbi if we did not have solid evidence against him.”

The rav denies the charges against him, blaming any wrongdoing on Eisenstatt.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)