State Police have charged a Brooklyn man with stealing a Sefer Torah from a Jewish retreat in the Town of Cochecton. Allan Sirju, 34, was charged with grand larceny in the third degree. He was an employee of the Relax Inn retreat.
On February 28, troopers received a report that a Sefer Torah was stolen from a safe at the facility.
During the investigation, police learned that Sirju had sold the Torah to a rabbi in Williamsburg, NY for $500 cash and was also given a post dated check for $4,000.
The rabbi then returned the Torah to the owner.
On March 3, Sirju was arrested when he returned to pick up his property at the Relax Inn after he learned the retreat was unoccupied.
He was arraigned and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
