Johannesburg - Singing and dancing greeted alleged sex-pest Rabbi Eliezer Berland at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday as the fugitive landed and was taken into custody by Israeli police.
Hundreds of his followers had gathered at the arrivals hall in the morning, celebrating his long-awaited return.
Berland, who has been on the run since February 2013, was extradited secretly by Interpol from OR Tambo International Airport back to his home country just before midnight on Monday.
The rabbi has four alleged charges of sexual assault and an alleged charge of assault to cause grievous bodily harm pending against him. He was arrested in South Africa on April 7 after failing to turn himself in.
One woman who was on the plane with Berland and about 50 of his followers said the flight was pleasant. The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said there was a bit of a strange atmosphere.
“He was brought onto the plane quite soon before take-off; he was sitting at the back wearing his prayer shawl. His followers were around him; they were singing, learning Torah and praying with him. It was a bit rowdy in the beginning and before we landed, but it was okay, they weren’t particularly disruptive,” she said.
The woman added that the arrivals hall at Ben Gurion Airport was chaotic when she came through.
“There were hundreds of men dancing, chanting and singing. It was quite a sight.”
Israeli police said on Tuesday that since the rabbi fled, police, together with the international department of the State Prosecutor’s Office and officials from the Foreign Ministry, had been working with Interpol to find him and bring him back.
“Depending on the development of the investigation, we will decide whether the police will ask the court to extend the detention,” Israeli police said.
On Sunday, one of his followers, who asked not to be identified, said Berland had decided not to fight the extradition order.
“He will go back to face them but he decided on his own. He is innocent and wants to clear his name,” the follower said.
In a recording released on Sunday, Berland called on his followers to pray for him. “This is a pivotal moment for me as I make my preparations to return, I need you to join me in prayer.”
An alleged recording of Berland’s son Nachman calling his father a criminal emerged on Monday morning, but Nachman has denied it. “It’s all a fake - it’s lies,” he said.
In February 2013, when Berland became aware of the charges against him, he fled Israel for Switzerland. From there he went to Morocco and Zimbabwe, but was deported from both countries.
In 2014 he made his way to South Africa and lived here until September that year. He eluded arrest by the Hawks several times. He then left for the Netherlands, where he was arrested on his arrival, then released on bail.
Around the middle of last year, he secretly fled the Netherlands or an unknown destination, and arrived in South Africa in November.