Wednesday, 28 January 2015 - 11:13
Alleged sex predator rabbi: I have no sex drive
"Sex pest" rabbi Eliezer Berland denies all allegation of sexually assaulting three young women and an underage girl. The 77-year-old spiritual leader of the ultra-orthodox Jewish movement Shuvu Banim claimed that he no longer has a sex drive in an interview with de Volkskrant.
"I feel nothing. There are no sexual feelings anymore. For 20 years already," Berland said. The rabbi said he had no bad intentions towards the women accusing him of sexual assault. "Sex? No, no, no. I had surgery on my prostate. All lust is gone. I never touched those women."
According to his lawyer, Louis de Leon, Berland is too sick to be tried for the crimes for which he is accused. The lawyer stated that the rabbi's heart problems are so severe that he cannot be extradited to Israel, where is is from.
A court in Haarlem is reopening the extradition case against the rabbi on Wednesday. In Israel, he stands accused of fornication with three women and an underage girl. He allegedly kissed and fondled them during consultations.