Chizki Kalmanowitz was remanded by the court until Thursday, 12 Elul 5772. He is one of the Asra Kadisha leaders arrested by police during a predawn raid in his home on Tuesday 10 Elul 5772 for allegedly damaging an archeological site in Beit Shemesh.

Some of the charges being leveled against the deputy director of Asra Kadisha include the theft of bones from an archaeological site, which police explain the defendant and his cohorts believed were Jewish bones.

Police are on alert, aware the remand of the prominent Asra Kadisha official may spark renewed violence from residents affiliated with the sikrikim fringe element of Meah Shearim.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)