After three years of experience: Rabbi Eliezer Berland, head of the 'Shuvo Banim' congregation in Breslov, was convicted today (Thursday) in the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, as part of a plea agreement he signed, of two serious offenses and the offense of assaulting a young man who was once one of his followers.
The Jerusalem District Attorney's Office and his lawyers are currently in the sentencing arguments stage, and the sentence will be handed down at a later date, in light of the victims' opposition to the deal.
According to the agreement signed between the parties, Rabbi Berland is expected to receive 18 months in prison - from which the period of detention already served will be deducted.
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As part of the settlement reached by Rabbi Berland's defense attorneys, led by Attorney Ephraim Damri, charges relating to two of the complainants against him - out of the four women who appeared in the indictment - will be dropped.
The charges relating to two other complainants and the assault offense will remain, and if the plea agreement is accepted, he will be convicted of committing two serious acts, and of assault and injury under aggravated circumstances.
The court is expected to confirm the sentence on Tuesday.
The courts' spokeswoman stated: "Upon submitting a plea agreement to the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, Eliezer Berland was convicted, based on his confession, of two offenses of indecent assault, and assault as detailed in the amended indictment.
"The arguments for the sentence will be on November 22, 2016 at 12:00. We will not be able to provide further details.".
The prosecutor's office reported that Rabbi Eliezer Berland pleaded guilty and was convicted today as part of a plea agreement of committing serious acts against two women while abusing their power, as well as for assaulting a Hasidim who exposed his actions.
""The agreed-upon sentence is 18 months in prison and compensation for the complainants.".
The prosecutor's statement further stated that the defendant admitted that on several occasions he exploited his position as the leader of a Hasidic community and committed serious acts against women who turned to him for advice, spiritual guidance, and blessings.
The statement from the prosecutor's office, as well as the amended indictment, in light of the plea agreement, describe the serious acts he committed. Also, when some of his actions were exposed, Rabbi Berland ordered two of his followers to harm the person who exposed the acts.
The case was handled by Attorney Yuval Kadar of the Jerusalem District Attorney's Office.
It should be noted that attorney Rachel Toren, who represented the leader of "Shuvu Banim" in the extradition process and during the legal hearings, told Kol Berama on Tuesday evening: "There is no deal and there were no talks about a deal. There is an evidentiary hearing next Thursday.".
It later turned out that she was fired by Rabbi Berland, who granted Attorney Damari power of attorney to represent him in the transaction.
