Kfar Saba Mayor, Wife Arrested in Bribery and Bid-Rigging Scheme

By ניצן שפיר

Translated & summarized from Globes by baba

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Hebrew · 20 newsrooms covering

Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife Meital were arrested along with 14 others in a corruption probe involving bribery and bid-rigging. Police suspect city officials received cash for manipulating tenders on projects like urban renewal and school renovations. The mayor's wife is alleged to have been a central figure, directly receiving bribes and influencing contractors. The investigation is ongoing, with suspects presumed innocent.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife Meital were arrested on suspicion of bribery and bid-rigging.
Police allege the couple received cash bribes to manipulate tenders for urban renewal and other municipal projects.
The mayor's wife is accused of playing a central role, acting as the main contact for contractors.
The investigation has seized cash, luxury vehicles, and designer bags, with rigged tenders valued in the millions.
The mayor also heads the city's planning and building committee, allegedly using his influence.
The probe, ongoing since 2019, involves allegations of public corruption, fraud, and money laundering.

Kfar Saba Mayor, Wife Arrested in Bribery and Bid-Rigging Scheme — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

The Mayor of Kfar Saba, Rafi Saar, and his wife, Meital, were arrested along with the CEO of the municipal economic company and 14 others on suspicion of involvement in a corruption scandal within the municipality. The investigation, which began with intelligence in 2019, focuses on allegations that senior city officials received cash bribes in exchange for manipulating tenders. The police are particularly highlighting the wife's significant involvement, suggesting she played a central role in managing municipal affairs and acting as the primary contact with contractors.

The scheme allegedly involved rigging bids for urban renewal projects, school renovations, traffic lights, food stalls, and sports facilities. During searches, police seized cash bundles, luxury vehicles, and designer bags. The investigation, led by the National Fraud Unit (Lahav 433), is also looking into links with known criminal elements from central Israel.

Authorities believe the Saars were at the top of the hierarchy of suspects, allegedly receiving bribes from contractors and service providers, which were used to purchase luxury goods and jewelry. The total value of the rigged tenders is estimated in the millions of shekels, with the couple allegedly pocketing tens to hundreds of thousands of shekels. The mayor, who also chairs the Kfar Saba planning and building committee, is accused of influencing the agenda and favoring certain contractors.

The investigation, which has involved extensive resources, has strengthened suspicions against the involved parties. The offenses being investigated include public corruption, bribery, fraud, breach of trust, money laundering, and tax offenses. The economic prosecutor's office is overseeing the case, which is still in its early stages, and all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.