An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man who tried to bribe a pretty young Brooklyn teen in a slimy attempt to get her to drop her sex abuse case against a once-prominent Hasidic counselor pleaded guilty today to bribing a witness in a deal that could let him off with no jail time.
Abraham Rubin, 49, admitted in Brooklyn Supreme Court that he spoke directly to the teen’s then-boyfriend – now husband – when he offered the bribe.
Brooklyn prosecutors charged that Rubin offered the couple $500,000 to leave the country so the case against Nechemya Weberman would be dropped.
Gregory P. Mango
Abraham Rubin leaves court after getting a plea deal for bribery. He tried to bribe the Rabbi Weberman victim with $500,000. Brooklyn Supreme Court, 320 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY. (Gregory P. Mango)
Weberman was convicted last year on the strength of his victim’s multi-day testimony about the abuse and was sentenced to 103 years behind bars.
The victim’s husband said he accepts the deal but wishes Rubin would get some jail time.
“I think a person like him that protects molesters and tries to take him out of jail belongs in jail just like a molester,” the husband said.
“Rubin didn’t care about Weberman’s victims and he didn’t care about Weberman’s future victims.”
Prosecutors asked that Rubin get six months behind bars. But Judge Danny Chun said he will reserve his decision until the October 29 sentencing, when he could hit Rubin with up to six months – but could also give him a sentence of only probation.
Asked for comment, Rubin said only, “I don’t consider you my friend.”
Rubin isn’t the only defendant to admit to trying to influence the Weberman case.
Three Orthodox Jewish brothers pleaded guilty on coercion charges in June on a no-jail deal for trying to intimidate the victim’s husband into dropping the case.
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