Former Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger was convicted Monday morning of accepting bribes totaling five million shekels ($1.32 million) in a signed plea bargain. Rabbi Metzger will serve a three-and-a-half year prison sentence. However, he may serve only two years if his sentence is shortened by a third for good behavior. As part of the plea bargain an amended indictment was filed against Metzger, which alleges that during his tenure as Chief Rabbi of Israel, Metzger committed many offenses including accepting bribes, fraud, and tax evasion while acting in his role and taking advantage of his high position. During the investigation of the case itself Metzger allegedly committed evidence tampering and obstruction of justice. While the offenses were committed and as a result of them, the rabbi received bribes totaling 5 million shekels, about 3 million of which went in his pocket, after dividing the bribe money with his driver, who served as messenger for the ill-gotten monies. The rest of the money went to his driver. The amended indictment lists six charges against Metzger. To download the full indictment in Hebrew, click here .
