The modern Orthodox Rabbi David Stav is seeking to succeed Rabbi Yona Metzger (pictured), the current Israeli Ashkenazi chief rabbi. Photo: PikiWiki Israel.

JNS.org – Rabbi Yona Metzger, the Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel, was placed under house arrest Thursday after police questioned him over an ongoing bribery, fraud and money-laundering investigation. The police allege that Metzger pocketed hundreds of thousands of shekels meant for several charities. Three other suspects were arrested.

Police officers raided Metzger’s home and office on Thursday afternoon following a covert investigation by Israel’s National Fraud Unit, Israel Hayom reported. The rabbi was detained and questioned for over 10 hours, after which he was arraigned and remanded to 15 days of house arrest.

Metzger was also barred from entering his office or leaving the country and prohibited from contacting the other suspects in the case.

Metzger’s attorneys, David Livai and Elad Rut, issued a statement saying, “The chief rabbi was summoned for police questioning, he complied and was questioned for several hours. Rabbi Metzger cooperated with the investigators in full and he denies all the allegations.”