Mayor's Wife Allegedly Ran City Hall in Corruption Scandal

The wife of a mayor from central Israel, along with her husband, is suspected of operating as the de facto head of the municipality, allegedly receiving cash bribes and facilitating favorable outcomes in various tenders. According to investigators, interested parties seeking to advance their interests and tenders in the local authority would contact the mayor's wife, who allegedly worked behind the scenes. She is suspected of receiving cash and helping to arrange processes that benefited specific individuals in tenders across different sectors.

When council members needed to be shielded from involvement or decisions needed to be kept away from key decision-makers, certain procedures were allegedly transferred to the CEO of the economic company. This CEO, under suspicion, is said to have acted according to the interests of the mayor and his wife, promoting certain business owners while creating difficulties for competing companies.

A senior official from Lahav 433's National Fraud Unit stated that the investigation is also examining the couple's lifestyle, which allegedly far exceeded their reported financial capabilities. Investigators reportedly found extensive cash usage, purchases of expensive jewelry and bags, and foreign travel. During searches, significant amounts of cash were found hidden in various locations, including wardrobes, pouches, bags, and vehicles, which police believe were used to conceal bribe money. The official noted that the flow of bribe money is continuous and linked to ongoing tenders, with evidence dating back to 2019, while the investigation began in May 2025.

Investigators describe the mayor's wife as "the number one woman in the city hall," allegedly involved in nearly all municipal activities, including appointments and dismissals, managerial decisions, and key operational matters, despite holding no official position with such authority. Her influence reportedly extended far beyond her formal status, making her a central figure in the city hall's decision-making processes.

The morning's raid resulted in the arrest of the mayor, his wife, the economic company's CEO, business owners, and other individuals known to the police. The investigation concerns significant projects and tenders in areas such as educational facility renovations, urban projects, transportation, sanitation, traffic lights, and urban renewal. A key focus is the alleged connection between the couple and known criminal elements in the Sharon region, who reportedly assisted the mayor during local elections. The couple married in 2022, having met in Hod Hasharon when the mayor was CEO and his wife was a municipal inspector. Investigators estimate the couple received hundreds of thousands of shekels, with a different bribe amount allegedly set for each project based on its scope and the interests involved. Technological means, including wiretaps, were used to gather evidence.