Fugitive Israeli Rabbi Eliezer Berland will spend another weekend in detention as the South Gauteng High Court reviews an application to have him placed under house arrest instead.
The 79-year-old leader of the Shuvu Banim community of the Breslov Hassidic sect fled Israel in 2012 after claims of sexual abuse were made against him by several female followers, including a 16-year-old girl.
He has since resided in Miami, Zurich, Morocco and Zimbabwe with a band of devoted followers in his efforts to escape extradition to Israel.
He was arrested in Sunninghill in April by Hawks officers stationed with Interpol.
Senior counsel Anton Katz told the court on Thursday that Berland had been unlawfully detained and asked for him to be released from prison and placed under house arrest instead.
Katz is also applying for a review of the acquittal order handed down by the Randburg Magistrates Court after Berland’s bail application was denied.
“His acquittal was made based on the fact the magistrate denied him bail. That was unlawful and this court cannot allow that. It is not how extradition works. The judicial officer did not know what she was doing,” he said.
The state meanwhile argued that Berland came in to the country with fake passport and was a flight risk.
The court heard that earlier this month Minister of Justice Michael Masutha had declared Berland extraditable.
A follower who didn’t want to be named said the rabbi had a positive attitude in prison and still continued blessing other prisoners despite all that was happening around him.
Judge Kathree Sethloane will decide early next week if he should be released or not.
