Kfar Saba Mayor, Wife Arrested in Major Corruption Probe

Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar, his wife Meital Saar, and the general director of the municipal economic company, Sagi Hen, have been arrested on suspicion of corruption. The arrests are part of a large-scale police operation that has detained 17 individuals and brought seven others in for questioning. The suspects include municipal officials, businesspeople, and individuals with ties to criminal organizations. The investigation, led by the Lahav 433 fraud unit, has been ongoing secretly for over a year and involves allegations of bribery, fraud, breach of trust, money laundering, and tax offenses.

Investigators allege that Mayor Saar and the municipal economic company's director, with the active involvement of the mayor's wife, facilitated the awarding of lucrative municipal tenders to specific businesses in exchange for bribes, primarily in cash. According to Ynet, Meital Saar, who holds no official municipal position, played a central role, allegedly maintaining direct contact with businesspeople seeking contracts and receiving payments. Police sources described her as a key figure in the alleged scheme, suggesting that business dealings with the municipality required her involvement.

To conceal the illicit activities, some municipal projects were allegedly transferred from the mayor's office to the municipal economic company, whose director is suspected of knowing in advance which businesses would win tenders. In some instances, competitors were allegedly obstructed from participating. The probe encompasses a wide range of municipal activities, including renovations, cleaning services, retail permits, business openings, entertainment complexes, sports facilities, and infrastructure projects.

Further investigation is focusing on alleged connections between the Saars and known criminal figures from the Sharon region, who may have assisted in Rafi Saar's election through intimidation of political rivals. Police are examining the nature of these ties, potential criminal involvement in contract allocation, and possible violent crimes. The couple's lifestyle, including suspected use of bribe money for luxury purchases and foreign travel, is also under scrutiny. During searches, police found large sums of cash, jewelry, and other items, and Meital Saar was previously found with 20,000 shekels in cash at Ben Gurion Airport.

The investigation, which began after numerous anonymous tips, moved into its public phase on Monday with searches at approximately 30 locations. The economic department of the state prosecutor's office is overseeing the case. Mayor Saar has temporarily stepped down, with Deputy Mayor Dani Harush assuming his duties. Saar stated he would cooperate fully with the investigation and believes it will clarify the situation, urging against premature conclusions. The municipality's services to residents are expected to continue as usual. Notably, the previous mayor of Kfar Saba, Yehuda Ben-Hamo, was previously convicted of corruption in April 2022.