Israeli mayor, wife held for eight more days on bribery, fraud suspicions

Kfar Sava Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife were remanded in custody for eight days on Monday on suspicion of bribery, fraud, money laundering and tax offenses, along with 22 other suspects, a court in central Israel ruled. The two were arrested Monday morning along with the CEO of a company affiliated with the city and 21 other suspects on suspicion of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, money laundering and tax offenses. The police requested to extend their detention by nine days. In his decision, Rishon Letzion Magistrate's Court Judge Yuval Kedar wrote, "The central claim regards the female suspect's actions, with the male suspect aware of both the female suspect receiving money and accordingly acting at her request with concrete awareness that she was colluding with others so she could receive those funds." The mayor's defense attorney, Micha Fettman, said his wife acted independently and without his knowledge. Close The Rishon Letzion Magistrate's Court on Monday. Credit: Hadas Parush The Rishon Letzion Magistrate's Court on Monday. Credit: Hadas Parush "They seized items belonging to the female suspect, not to him," he said. "The mayor claims he is not involved in any improper incident. He is cooperating. He has nothing to hide. He answered and will answer questions and is ready for a confrontation." At the hearing, the police representative presented the main suspicions, claiming that the mayor "exploited his status to advance his and his wife's personal interests." The police representative said the mayor's wife served as a central figure. "She exploited her status as the mayor's wife to advance interests and receive bribe money, and pushed decision-making processes in exchange for large sums of money," she said. "This is a serious affair with a large number of incidents, and criminal elements are involved." In its decision, the court noted, "There is reasonable suspicion that the female suspect committed the offenses attributed to her." It added that extensive data was collected in the investigation material after "a wide range of means were employed, and the suspicion established is of a high degree." The court also noted that the material indicates that Meital Saa'rs "deep involvement in the Kfar Sava municipality and her receipt of funds through various means" were accompanied by "significant indications that she was clearly aware that her actions are criminal." The police also stressed that it had identified in recent days attempts by individuals to obstruct the investigation. Related Articles Israeli deputy mayor arrested on suspicion of bribery, rigged tenders affair Josh Breiner Police recommend corruption charges against Likud Minister May Golan Josh Breiner Central Israeli mayor, wife, 22 others, arrested in bribery and corruption probe Josh Breiner Lahav 433, the Israel Police's anti-corruption and major crime unit, has been conducting the investigation for more than a year. Police suspect the criminal ties began in 2019. The criminals allegedly helped Rafi Saar get elected mayor and later pressured him and his wife to help them win tenders . Police say the money was paid to Meital Saar, who worked to advance the tenders for her husband, who heads the city's planning and building committee. Saar's predecessor, Yehuda Ben-Hamo, was arrested on corruption charges in 2017 after a two-year investigation. He was convicted in 2021.