Fear, concern as ‘sex pest rabbi’ denied bail

Published Apr 29, 2016

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Johannesburg - There was silent chaos in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after bail was denied to alleged sex pest and Israeli fugitive Rabbi Eliezer Berland.

The rabbi was agitated and unsure what was happening. “Where am I going?” he asked. His followers were upset when they heard the news. Some stood up and were told by police to settle down.

Many voiced their concern for Berland's well-being. “They want to see him die,” they said.

His wife then asked if she could say goodbye to him before he was taken back into custody.

Magistrate Pravina Rughunanden said Berland was a flight risk because of his track record, especially after he fled the Netherland, absconded bail of €50 000 (R809 000) and violated his bail conditions.

Although Berland claimed in his affidavit that he left Holland because his life was in danger, Rughunanden said there was no supporting documentation to prove this.

She said that if he was threatened in South Africa, there was a good chance he would flee again. The magistrate added the court was also concerned that the South African permit in his Ivorian passport had expired in February.

“Mr Berland is therefore illegal in South Africa,” Rughunanden said.

Before judgment in his bail application was handed down, Berland stood up and said that if he goes back to Israel, “they will kill me. I cannot escape again, I won’t escape again if you let me out, I can’t, there’s no way for me to!”

Berland’s lawyer, Themba Langa, said the fact that Berland had been in custody for 21 days and was unable to observe and enjoy Passover properly in accordance with Jewish law “was punishment enough” and that he deserved bail.

He said the issue that court procedures had been followed incorrectly in terms of the extradition legislation should also be taken into account.

Advocate Harold Knopp, who was also part of the defence team, gave examples of cases in a bid to strengthen their arguments for bail. This included a case involving another Israeli fugitive residing in South Africa who is wanted in Israel on allegations of murder, but was granted bail.

She said the State was opposing Berland’s bail because he was a flight risk.

Prosecutor advocate Nerisha Naidoo said Berland had received his fake diplomatic passport from the Ivory Coast on December 28, 2014 while still adhering to stringent bail conditions in the Netherlands after his arrest and release in September.

“How did he obtain it?” Naidoo asked.

When his appeal (for extradition) was denied in Holland in June 2015, he fled using the Ivory Coast diplomatic passport, Naidoo said.

Berland will remain in custody at Johannesburg Prison until a court decision is reached.

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