Kfar Saba Mayor and Wife Re-questioned in Bribery Probe
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife Mital were re-questioned Tuesday by police on suspicion of bribery and fraud. The couple allegedly maintained a lavish lifestyle inconsistent with their income. The mayor denied wrongdoing, claiming full financial separation from his wife. Police believe they have sufficient evidence for an indictment.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife Mital were re-questioned by police on suspicion of bribery.
- Investigators suspect the couple maintained a lavish lifestyle inconsistent with their reported income.
- Mayor Saar denied all accusations and claimed full financial separation from his wife.
- Police are examining suspicions the couple conducted technological scans to detect surveillance.
- A senior source stated police have a critical mass of evidence and expect an indictment.
The Mayor of Kfar Saba, Rafi Saar, and his wife, Mital, were re-questioned Tuesday for several hours by the National Fraud Unit of Lahav 433, on suspicion of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. The investigation centers on allegations that the couple maintained a lavish lifestyle inconsistent with their reported income since Saar took office.
During his interrogation, Mayor Saar denied all accusations, stating he had no knowledge of any bribery involving his wife and asserting a complete financial separation between them. He insisted he never accepted bribes and did not believe his wife acted on his behalf. Police suspect Mital Saar, described by investigators as a dominant figure in the municipality, wielded more influence than her husband.
Investigators are also examining suspicions that the couple conducted technological scans in and around the mayor's office to detect police surveillance, which authorities claim they identified in real-time. A confrontation between the Saars is expected to take place to reconcile their accounts.
A senior investigation source stated that police have amassed a critical mass of evidence, asserting that the couple and other suspects regularly received payments related to city tenders. "There is no doubt we will reach an indictment based on the collected material," the source added, noting the last bribe payment was received shortly before an arrest.
