Four people from the Gadera municipal council, including senior officials, stand accused of extortion by threatening a chareidi official from the council, that if he does not resign, a video will be distributed showing him in a very embarrassing situation in his shul. The council member: “For me, this is not blackmail – I did not want to resign – A chareidi who does such a think in a shul is a monster … ”

An indictment was filed Thursday in the Rehovot Magistrate’s Court against four defendants, including a member of the local council in Gadera.

Council member Tzion Yadi and the three other defendants were charged with extortion by threat and destruction of evidence.

According to the indictment, the four are suspected of extorting and threatening a chareidi official that unless he resigns from his position in the Gadera Council and makes room for their people, a video will be distributed to them, in which he appears to be in a very embarrassing situation in a shul.

According to a report by Tzach Shfitzan and Roi Yanovsky on KAN News, the defendants arrived at the complainant’s home, showed him the video and threatened that if he did not comply, they would distribute the video in public.

In April, transcripts of the suspects’ interrogation were published by KAN11 News, which raised a question mark regarding the behavior of council head Yoel Gamliel, even though the case against him was closed.

Gamliel was questioned on suspicion of conspiring to commit a crime and obstructing interrogation procedures. Yadi is a senior member of the council who was supposed to benefit from the resignation and accept a position.

Attorney Yaron Forer, who represents the defendants, responded about two and a half months ago to KAN News and said that this is not blackmail at all, but rather actions that were carried out as public figures representing the religious and chareidi tzibur.

According to him, “the issue of religion is close to their hearts,” and when they heard what was done inside a shul they were shocked. According to him, this is a shul of attended by their families, and therefore the matter was extremely sensitive.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)