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Photo: Haim Zach
'Chastity squad' man charged with attacking computer store clerks
Shmuel Weisfish accused of threatening to murder employees of Jerusalem computer store for selling 'non-kosher' MP4 players
The Jerusalem Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment Thursday with the capital's District Court against Shmuel Weisfish, 22, a member of the notorious ultra-Orthodox 'chastity squad'.
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Weisfish is accused of attacking employees at a computer store in Jerusalem's Geula neighborhood and threatening to torch the store and murder them. Charges include rioting, blackmail, threat, and aggravated assault and battery.
According to the indictment, Weisfish took part in "chastity squad" protests that were regularly held outside the computer store, which the members accused of selling "non-kosher" MP4 players. According to the 'chastity squad', the gadgets expose users to inappropriate content.
During these demonstrations, which began in June 2008, Weisfish would drive customers out of the store, damage merchandise and threaten to murder the employees and burn the store down.
The prosecution said that during one protest Weisfish and a fellow 'chastity squad' members dragged the manager out of the store and held him down as their friends beat him, and in another demonstration he threw a rock at the store, injuring one of the employees.
During his interrogation Weisfish identified himself using a false name, and also refused to give out his parents' names.
