Double Trouble: Rabbi Pinto Faces Civil Suit in New York
Former partner in real estate project alleges he was arrested by a N.Y. police officer on Pinto's order.
Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, suspected in Israel of having bribed a senior police officer, is facing a civil complaint in New York State Supreme Court in connection with a separate issue.
According to the complaint, Pinto ordered a New York City police officer to arrest his top aide’s business rival. The rival, Tomer Shohat, is seeking unspecified damages from Pinto, his former investment Partner Benzion Suky, Suky’s brother Eran Suki and NYPD detective Eric Patino.
Shohat alleges that the defendants conspired against him and threatened him with bodily harm after he discovered their alleged mismanagement of the Metro Apartments in New York, in which the group had invested $10.5 million.
Shohat alleged that he discovered Suky was misappropriating money and operating the building as an illegal hotel.
Patino allegedly arrested Shohat after first offering to set him free on condition that he turn over his computer and all of the information he had gathered in his investigation.
Haaretz reported on February 21 that authorities in Israel are preparing to indict Pinto.
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