After about 21 months in the Ukraine, the couple arrested for carrying drugs in their suitcase by Ukrainian authorities was released ahead of Pesach. Pinchas and Chani Willer have been released from jail following renewed efforts to obtain their release over recent weeks.
The story began when Pinchas’ life was threatened as he was held in a building in Switzerland by a band of youths who were hired to terrorize them. He eventually agreed to their threats and traveled to Ukraine where he was promised a job. Later, he and his wife decided they want to return home to Israel.
The two, who married and left their children back in Israel wished to reunite with them. They were prevented from returning however as drugs were planted in their suitcase and they were arrested at the airport.
They were arrested. Their lawyer insisted they are not drug dealers and they were released on bail with severe restrictions, including prohibition on leaving the Ukraine. The two were left without means and they were assisted by Chabad shluchim. A number of months ago, Israel Police became involved and the individuals responsible for setting them up were arrested in Israel, Switzerland and in Ukraine.
An indictment was handed down a few weeks ago against a Gerrer chossid involved, a young man who ostensibly ran the entire array of threats against the two. Ukrainian officials were informed of the indictment and this led to their release.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
When you live in such a self-insulated world, you can easily fall prey to any oisvorf from that world that tells you what to do. Some big-shot from your chassidus tells you to do something, you do whatever he says. In the real world, anyone else would’ve said “doofus, get outta here,” and the guy would’ve left them alone.
The Maharam of Prague was Junior Varsity compared to Jewish cult figures. The Maharam only created one golem.
It hasn’t been “The Ukraine” at least since the breakup of the USSR. It’s simply “Ukraine.”