‘Abuser’ rabbi extradited

RABBI ELIEZER Berland was extradited to Israel — his home country — this week, where he will face charges of sexual assault, following a three-year saga in which he tried to evade justice.

Rabbi Berland, 78, the leader of the “Shuvu Banim” Brelav Chasidic sect, fled Israel in 2013 when police began investigating allegations that he had coercedwomenintoperformingsexual acts with him.

He has tried to find sanctuary in half a dozen countries on three continents, but was forced to leave, both because of the Israeli request for extradition and because he was denounced by local Jewishcommunities.Hewasfinallyextradited from South Africa on Tuesday, having beenunderarrestthereforfourmonths. His lawyers deny the allegations.