The Portuguese judiciary conducted several searches and arrested the rabbi of the Porto community as part of an investigation into the naturalization of Jewish descendants that benefited Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, authorities announced Friday evening.
The investigation is about factsThe offenses of influence peddling, active corruption, document forgery and money laundering are likely to constitute“Or even tax evasion,” outlines a press release from the attorney general. Local media reported that Daniel Litvak, Porto’s chief rabbi, was arrested Thursday in Porto as he was about to return to Israel. On Saturday, he must appear before a judge to decide the judicial arrest procedures that will be applied to him. Last January, the Portuguese judiciary opened an investigation into the naturalization procedures of Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea Football Club, who obtained citizenship in April 2021.
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The Russian billionaire benefited from a law allowing all descendants of Sephardic Jews, who were persecuted and expelled at the end of the 15th century, to obtain Portuguese citizenship. Under this law, Jewish communities in Porto or Lisbon must present a certificate proving Jewish origin. Officials of these communities are suspected of issuing false certificates of Jewish origin to many of the candidates, a press release notes to the Israeli community in Porto that refutes the accusations. It also states that this investigation is targeting other naturalization proceedings such as those of Patrick Drahy, owner and founder of communications and media group Altice.
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Israeli community in Porto says victim of ‘unknown convictions’ stomach for “Question about the honesty of procedures” of naturalization and adds that he has already filed a complaint “Denouncing slander”. Since the Compensation Act came into effect seven years ago, more than 137,000 citizenship applications have been submitted. Portugal has granted citizenship to more than 56,000 descendants of Sephardic Jews, according to figures cited by the Israeli community in Porto.“Jews of at least 60 different nationalities” have already benefited from the law, Michael Rothwell, a board member of the Jewish community in Porto, told AFP, marking the law’s seventh anniversary.
“We believe that Portugal is currently probably the safest place in Europe for Jews to live”And he had confirmed, expressing his regret at the increase in demonstrations “Anti-Semitism in the Open” With “A larger vision of the Jewish community”.
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