Fugitive rabbi denied bail
Fugitive rabbi Eliezer Berland was denied bail in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
The Israeli will remain in custody until a decision is made on whether he'll be extradited.
The 80-year-old is the leader of the Shuvu Bonim Hassidic sect in Jerusalem and is alleged to have fled Israel in 2012.
This comes after allegations of sexual harassment were made against him by some of his female followers.
The court found Berland was a flight risk and he was therefore denied bail.
In court, the rabbi was described as an elderly man in poor health.
His defence assured the court he has ties to South Africa and won't flee if granted bail.
However, the State pointed out he fled Holland while on bail a few years ago after being arrested and set to be extradited to Israel.
The State argued that if he ignored his bail conditions once, what would stop him from doing it again.