Kfar Saba's Cycle of Corruption: Two Mayors Implicated in Graft Scandals

Kfar Saba, a city in central Israel, is once again at the center of a public corruption scandal, with its current mayor, Rafi Saar, arrested on suspicion of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. This follows the conviction of his predecessor, Yehuda Ben-Hamo, who served two and a half years in prison for stealing donation funds intended for needy families.

Ben-Hamo, who led Kfar Saba for approximately 15 years until 2018, was found guilty of stealing gift certificates worth around 600,000 shekels, intended for the city's poor. The court determined that he personally took about 190,000 shekels worth of these certificates and distributed others to associates, while only a portion reached the intended recipients. Investigators found some of these certificates in his personal belongings. He was also convicted of acting in conflict of interest to advance the business interests of a close friend.

In October 2021, Ben-Hamo was sentenced to two years in prison and a 200,000 shekel fine, which was later increased to two and a half years and a 300,000 shekel fine by the Supreme Court following an appeal by the prosecution. He resigned from his position in February 2018 after being indicted.

Rafi Saar was elected to replace Ben-Hamo in 2018. The current investigation, which has been ongoing secretly for over a year, also involves Saar's wife and the CEO of the Economic Company. Authorities suspect that Saar and the CEO accepted bribes, primarily in cash, from businessmen in exchange for favorable treatment in municipal tenders. The investigation also suggests the involvement of known criminal elements from central Israel and potential money laundering and tax offenses.