Johannesburg - A fugitive Israeli rabbi who fled to South Africa after being accused of sexual crimes has been arrested in the Netherlands.
A former follower said the Dutch and Israeli police arrested Eliezer Berland, of the Breslov Hasidic movement, at Amsterdam’s airport soon after landing on Thursday.
Berland was reportedly smuggled out of South Africa on Wednesday night by his followers, who had allegedly been helping him evade the police since he fled here in April. His intention was to travel to Ukraine to visit the grave of Rabbi Nachman, founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement, in Uman, Ukraine.
The former follower said on Thursday the elderly man was travelling with his wife Tehila Berland and a few followers when he was arrested.
“Dutch border police officials were informed about his departure from South Africa and they were waiting for him. They approached him and told him that he was wanted for questioning in Israel.
“The rabbi was unmoved by his arrest and said that ‘if it is the way to Israel, no problem’,” said the man, who asked for his identity not to be revealed.
The Hawks, who had a warrant of arrest for Berland and had been trying to arrest him since his arrival in South Africa, did not have information on Berland’s arrest and were verifying the report, spokesman Paul Ramaloko said.
It is believed that Berland left South Africa soon after his close shave with the police on Monday night, when he evaded a roadblock in Sandringham, Joburg.
Berland had been on the run since allegations of a sexual nature surfaced in 2012.
He went to the US, Italy, Switzerland, Morocco and Zimbabwe before finally arriving in South Africa in April.
Berland’s arrest has, however, not diminished the support he enjoys among his followers, according to the source.
“His followers are preparing to welcome him upon his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. They remain loyal to him.”
The Star