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January 12th, 2010, 09:59 AM
Rabbi calls for quicker case
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26580174-2682,00.html
A "FRUSTRATED" rabbi and his wife have called for their fraud case to be sped up, saying the matter has "frustrated" their lives.
Lawyers for Yosef and Chana Engel today asked the Adelaide Magistrates Court to expedite the case, claiming it is preventing them from "getting on with their lives".
Rabbi Engel, 41, and Chana Engel, 39, of Glenunga, each have yet to plead to 39 counts of dishonestly dealing with documents.
Prosecutors have alleged the couple falsified accounts in order to create a Jewish education facility called the Spirit of David School.
The two are accused of listing a number of students as undertaking religious studies at the school in order to obtain $50,000 in grants from the State and Federal governments.
Prosecutors have claimed the Spirit of David School did not exist, and that more than half of those students listed were in no way connected with the couple.
Today Natale Oliveri, for Rabbi Engel, said prosecutors had yet to provide copies of all their evidence.
"This has been going on for about three years now," he said.
"My client is a rabbi who has been frustrated by this process.
"He's not been able to get on with his life."
The case was adjourned until March for a pre-trial conference.
Rabbi Engel and his former employer, the Adelaide Hebrew Congregation, were involved in a lengthy 2007 court battle over the termination of his contract. He lost the action in the Supreme Court.
London's Beth Din Jewish Orthodox Court is now examining the matter. Rabbi Engel is seeking reinstatement and compensation from the congregation.
Court orders barring him officiating at services called by the congregation or at the Glenside synagogue remain in force.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26580174-2682,00.html
A "FRUSTRATED" rabbi and his wife have called for their fraud case to be sped up, saying the matter has "frustrated" their lives.
Lawyers for Yosef and Chana Engel today asked the Adelaide Magistrates Court to expedite the case, claiming it is preventing them from "getting on with their lives".
Rabbi Engel, 41, and Chana Engel, 39, of Glenunga, each have yet to plead to 39 counts of dishonestly dealing with documents.
Prosecutors have alleged the couple falsified accounts in order to create a Jewish education facility called the Spirit of David School.
The two are accused of listing a number of students as undertaking religious studies at the school in order to obtain $50,000 in grants from the State and Federal governments.
Prosecutors have claimed the Spirit of David School did not exist, and that more than half of those students listed were in no way connected with the couple.
Today Natale Oliveri, for Rabbi Engel, said prosecutors had yet to provide copies of all their evidence.
"This has been going on for about three years now," he said.
"My client is a rabbi who has been frustrated by this process.
"He's not been able to get on with his life."
The case was adjourned until March for a pre-trial conference.
Rabbi Engel and his former employer, the Adelaide Hebrew Congregation, were involved in a lengthy 2007 court battle over the termination of his contract. He lost the action in the Supreme Court.
London's Beth Din Jewish Orthodox Court is now examining the matter. Rabbi Engel is seeking reinstatement and compensation from the congregation.
Court orders barring him officiating at services called by the congregation or at the Glenside synagogue remain in force.