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Police to demand extradition of Rabbi believed behind child abuse sect
Apr. 7, 2008
Uri Blau, Yair Ettinger, Jonathan Lis and Ofra Edelman, Haaretz Correspondents and AP
www.haaretz.com
More articles on this topic: Elior ChenIsrael Police said Monday they will begin extradition proceedings against Rabbi Elior Chen, who fled to Canada shortly after one of his followers was charged with systematic child abuse including burning her toddlers, making them eat feces, and putting them in a suitcase for days.
Chen was not charged with anything, but fled as news reports of the Jerusalem mother’s detention were circulated, and it appeared she had committed the abuse following instructions from him on child disciplining techniques.
During a search of his home Thursday, police found evidence that appears to link the rabbi to the abuse, including journals that document the violence.
Chen may be meeting other members of the sect in Canada, where the family of one of the members lives, according to a friend of Chen’s who is familiar with the group but doesn’t belong to it. The friend said Chen fled with Joseph Fisher, whose name was not mentioned in an indictment filed yesterday against the mother of the children suspected of being abused by Chen’s followers. The remand of the mother was extended Sunday until April 14.
Two of the family’s eight children, aged 4 and 5, were hospitalized in serious condition two weeks ago, after Chen allegedly ordered two of his followers to discipline the children by beating, burning, pushing and shaking them, and tying them up as a way of “correcting” their behavior.
The 4-year-old remains in a coma. Police suspect that Chen’s supporters also doused the children in hot and cold water and broke their bones with hammers and blows. The mother was charged with forcing the children to eat feces, beating them unconscious and locking them up in a suitcase for three days.
Jerusalem police also arrested an additional suspect in the case, and have issued a gag order regarding his identity. The Magistrate’s Court extended his remand by five days.
Chen and three of his supporters allegedly began providing the family with “educational lessons” several months ago. They allegedly kicked the father out of his home and began abusing several of the family’s eight children, especially the two youngest.
Chen and Fisher left the country legally, and their exit was registered at border control. Afterward, their wives and children went into hiding. The Fisher apartment has been cleared out and its contents have been placed in storage.
Police said they do not know the location of Chen’s and Fisher’s families, but Chen’s friend said they were hoping to go to Canada as well and may have already left the country.
Chen and his supporters chose Canada in part, the source said, because “the extradition law is tough” there. “Only in very exceptional cases does Canada extradite,” he said.
Elior Chen’s father, Yaakov Chen, told Haaretz he did not know where his son or his son’s family was hiding. “I didn’t see him, I don’t know where he is,” he said. “The last time I saw him was three weeks ago, after he had a girl. I went to his home in Upper Betar, gave him a present and that’s it. I haven’t seen him since. I’m sitting at home and eating my heart out.”
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