Rabbi Berland released as an alternative to electronic arrest - at a secret location

February 15, 2021   

The 'Black Ops' affair: The Jerusalem District Court decided this morning (Monday) to release Rabbi Eliezer Berland in exchange for electronic handcuffing under strict conditions, and he is prohibited from leaving the country.

In addition to the electronic handcuffs, he will stay in a secret location, with two supervisors, a private security company he will pay to ensure that he does not escape, and an apartment will be confiscated for the benefit of the state in the amount of 2.5 million shekels - if he escapes.

Judge David Gideoni ruled in his decision that "Berland is prohibited from having direct or indirect contact with members of his community. He is prohibited from using any means of communication, except for an agreed list of people that will be formulated between the prosecution and Berland's lawyers, and this will be done under supervision. Entry into the place of detention is prohibited. An order prohibiting leaving the country will also be signed. A bail amount of 1.2 million shekels will be deposited.".

A security company will monitor him. However, the Jerusalem District Court yesterday rejected the preliminary arguments of the leader of "Shuvo Banim" to cancel the indictment against him for extortion, fraud, tax offenses and money laundering. Attorney Amit Hadad Noa Milstein and Avichai Yehosef of the Hadad Roth Shenhar & Co. law firm and Attorney Rotem Tobol, who represent Rabbi Berland, said: "We welcome the District Court's decision today that ordered the release of Rabbi Berland as an alternative to detention. "Unfortunately, Rabbi Berland's health has deteriorated greatly in recent months, and we are happy that the courts have recognized the necessity of releasing Rabbi Berland to an alternative to detention that will allow him to maintain his health, until the end of the legal process." In recent months, negotiations for a plea agreement have been underway between the State Attorney's Office and Rabbi Eliezer Berland's attorneys, but in the end, the Attorney General ordered the State Attorney's Office to cancel the negotiated plea deal.

In January, the Prison Service informed the court that it would not be able to electronically handcuff Rabbi Berland while he was hospitalized.

The opinion of the Maoz unit at the Israeli Prison Service states that the implementation of electronic handcuffing has never been examined in a hospital in Israel, and to the best of their knowledge, anywhere else in the world. They also added that the effects of the hospital's technological systems and medical equipment have not been examined.

In addition, the IPS said that given a situation where the medical condition of the 'Shuvo Banim' leader would require the bracelet to be removed frequently, this would require unreasonable inputs from the unit. The IPS also noted that it would not be possible to monitor the presence of additional people by his side.

Rabbi Berland, who was previously imprisoned for serious acts against women in his community, is accused in the "Black Oppression" case of a series of acts of oppression, receiving something by fraud under aggravated circumstances, and concealing income of approximately 140 million shekels. He was arrested a year ago, along with several community leaders, who have since been released.