Crime12 October, 20263 min read
Police Arrest Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar, Wife Meital Saa'rs Over Bribery And Fraud
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Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife were arrested in bribery and fraud probe Police arrested 17 suspects, including the municipal development CEO, in the case
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Remand in Kfar Sava
Israeli police arrested Kfar Sava Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife Meital Saa'rs on Monday and sought to extend their detention by nine days after a court in central Israel remanded them in custody for eight more days on suspicion of bribery, fraud, money laundering and tax offenses. Rishon Letzion Magistrate's Court Judge Yuval Kedar wrote, "The central claim regards the female suspect's actions," and the court also noted that there was "reasonable suspicion that the female suspect committed the offenses attributed to her." Micha Fettman, the mayor's defense attorney, said his wife acted independently and without his knowledge, adding, "They seized items belonging to the female suspect, not to him."
Police representative statements described how the mayor "exploited his status to advance his and his wife's personal interests," and police said Lahav 433 has been conducting the investigation for more than a year. The Haaretz account said police suspect the criminal ties began in 2019, and it said Saar's predecessor Yehuda Ben-Hamo was arrested on corruption charges in 2017 and convicted in 2021.
Cash, tenders, and raids
Police arrested 17 suspects and questioned seven more in a public corruption case disclosed on Monday, centering on Kfar Saba mayor Rafi Sa’ar, his wife Meital, and the general manager of the municipality’s economic company. Police said the mayor and the general manager, with notable participation by the mayor’s wife, granted favors to businesspeople in exchange for bribes, most of which were paid in cash, leading to their winning a large number of important tenders. The investigation described a secret phase that began in May of last year and said it started about a year and a half ago after police received dozens of intelligence sources raising suspicions of widespread corruption within the municipality.
Rafi Sa’ar confirmed that he was questioned by the police and announced a temporary suspension of his duties, and he told the public, "I intend to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities and provide all required clarifications." Police said they carried out searches at about 30 sites, and they confiscated valuable jewelry and luxury watches while examining evidence of air travel and purchases outside Israel.
Ben Gurion cash interception
Investigators said customs officers at Ben Gurion Airport intercepted 20,000 shekels in cash in the wife’s possession on her latest return to the country, and they questioned her at the scene. The Times of Israel said police arrested or detained 24 suspects on Monday morning, including the head of a local municipality in central Israel and his wife, on suspicion of involvement in a bribery and fraud scheme. The Times of Israel also said police suspected the mayor and the head of a financial firm received bribes to rig tenders in various fields within the local authority.
Ynet reported that customs officials found 20,000 shekels in cash in Saar's wife's possession at Ben Gurion Airport, and it said she was questioned by customs authorities. A National Fraud Investigations Unit source described the alleged scale of the corruption as, "The city was sold, nothing less than that," while officials said, "He is an elected official, she has no public standing, but she has a hand in everything."