Kfar Saba Mayor's Detention Extended Amid Bribery Allegations

A Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court extended the detention of Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Sa'ar by eight days, until October 19, as he is suspected of accepting bribes and other corruption offenses. The central issue in the hearing was Sa'ar's awareness of his wife Meital's activities and the money she received. Police alleged the couple acted together, while Sa'ar's lawyer, Micah Patman, argued they maintain financial separation and that the mayor was unaware of the source of all funds held by his wife.

Judge Yuval Keidar ruled that the evidence presented indicated a suspicion that Meital acted through various channels to receive funds illegitimately, with her husband's assistance. According to the suspicion described in the ruling, Sa'ar was aware of the money's receipt and acted according to her demands, including manipulating tenders, advancing projects for interested parties, and providing operational solutions related to his mayoral duties. The police requested a nine-day extension of his detention, claiming Sa'ar exploited his position and authority for personal and his wife's interests. Large sums of cash were seized during searches at the couple's home and other locations.

The police representative described the case as extensive, involving many individuals, search locations, and various events. Approximately 135 planned investigative actions were submitted to the court, with 85 of them, according to the police, being susceptible to obstruction. The police emphasized that Sa'ar's status and knowledge of those involved create a real concern that he will obstruct the investigation.

Conversely, attorney Patman argued that Sa'ar's involvement in tenders, committees, and resident interactions is part of his job and does not inherently indicate wrongdoing. He questioned whether the police were aware of the couple's claim of financial separation, which had been raised with Israeli authorities months prior in unrelated circumstances. The police representative confirmed they were aware. Patman also addressed an incident upon the couple's return from abroad, stating Meital had then claimed Sa'ar had no knowledge of the funds she possessed. The police countered that Sa'ar knew about both the funds and the version his wife intended to provide customs, suggesting the attempt to portray separation was premeditated to distance the mayor from the investigation.

The police asserted that the bribery offenses were committed in cooperation between the two, though they acknowledged not all actions were done jointly. Patman objected to the implication that his questions were intended to shift blame to Meital, clarifying he does not represent her. The discussion also covered whether funds from the alleged offenses were transferred directly to Sa'ar's bank account. While the police stated they had no evidence of direct transfers to his account during the period in question, they emphasized that most funds were allegedly transferred in cash, some even in recent days. The police attributed the seized cash to both spouses, noting its discovery at the home was based on information about where bribe money was received. Patman argued the police had not presented evidence of a conversation indicating Meital received funds and Sa'ar knew, suggesting she might have acted independently and that the financial separation was presented before the investigation was known.