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| Israeli chief rabbi Yona Metzger |
The chief rabbi of Israel suspended himself effective immediately after being detained last week by Israeli police and accused of committing fraud.
Metzger, who is one of the two chief rabbis of Israel, is the subject of a police investigation into a scheme of alleged money laundering.
Yona Metzger's lawyers said Sunday that he decided not to perform any official function, while the police investigation continues. Metzger was questioned last week on fraud and bribery charges. Police raided his home and office after a months-long undercover investigation in his financial transactions. Metzger denied all the allegations made against him.
Metzger is mere weeks away from completing the 10 year term as the country's Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi, or of European descent, Jews. Together with a second Rabbi of the Sephardic, or Middle Eastern descent, Metzger has led the country's supreme body that oversees Jewish services.
In 2005, Metzger was also questioned on allegations of fraud. No charges were filed at that time.