Former chief rabbi Bakshi-Doron sentenced to probation in corruption case
District
court also orders rabbi to pay NIS 250,000 fine; he was found guilty of
issuing false Torah education certificates to members of the security
forces, making them eligible for pay raises.
Jerusalem District Court Judge Zvi Segal accepted a plea deal reached between the sides, as part of which the rabbi relinquished his pension rights while the prosecution conceded its demand to have the court find him guilty of moral turpitude.
Bakshi-Doron was indicted in 2012 along with several other Chief Rabbinate officials for issuing 1,500 false Torah education certificates to members of the security forces, making them eligible for pay raises.
Bakshi-Doron's trial lasted for more than four years and the offenses attributed to him were committed more than 15 years ago, during his tenure as Chief Rabbi of Israel.
The indictment alleges that from 1999-2003, Rabbi Yitzhak Ohana, Director of the Rabbinical Examinations and Accreditation Department, was asked either directly or through intermediaries to issue certificates to members of the security forces who studied at various colleges.
The fraudulent documents contained false information regarding the true scope of the supposed studies, including credits, hours studied, and past and future academic activities.
According to the indictment, Rabbi Ohana eventually approached Rabbi Bakshi-Doron and requested assistance in dealing with the issuing of the fake certificates. Bakshi-Doron instructed Ohana to issue members of the security forces certificates for higher-level religious education and "turn a blind eye" to the criteria in order to "close the matter."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5004132,00.html
They should seriously consider public elections of chief rabbis. Cannot do worse. Come to think of it maybe its time to appoint an honest rebetzen and get her husband come along for the ride. Most good rebetzens have nice harmless rabbis as partners.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Maria
DeleteYears ago a friend of mine was dating rabbi Bakshi-Doron's daughter. She didn't like him, but instead of just breaking up, the father hired henchmen to beat him up!
ReplyDelete