Kfar Saba Mayor, Wife Remain in Custody Amid Bribery Probe
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife Mital Saar will remain in custody until Thursday as part of a corruption investigation. Police suspect the couple accepted cash for manipulating tenders for various municipal projects. Authorities are attributing full involvement to the mayor's wife, who allegedly received payments and dictated terms, with evidence also linking the mayor to the offenses. The investigation involves suspicions of bribery, fraud, and money laundering.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife Mital Saar will remain in custody until Thursday.
- The couple is suspected of receiving cash in exchange for manipulating tenders.
- Police attribute full involvement in the affair to the mayor's wife.
- The investigation involves tenders for urban renewal, schools, traffic lights, and sports.
- Searches yielded cash, vehicles, and luxury bags.
- Suspected offenses include bribery, fraud, and money laundering.
A Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court has extended the arrest of Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife, Mital Saar, for an additional three days, until this coming Thursday. The couple was arrested a week ago on suspicion of involvement in a corruption case. The National Fraud Investigations Unit (LAHAV 433) suspects the couple received cash in exchange for manipulating tenders.
In an unusual development, police are attributing full involvement in the affair and interference in the municipality's operations to the mayor's wife. The case is distinguished by the scope of projects in which the suspects allegedly interfered, including urban renewal tenders, renovation of educational institutions, traffic lights, food stalls, and sports facilities. During searches, bundles of cash, vehicles, and luxury bags were seized.
The offenses attributed to the suspects fall under public corruption, bribery, fraud and breach of trust, money laundering, and tax offenses. Police stated that significant resources were invested in the investigation, strengthening the suspicions against those involved. According to police, Saar's wife was the driving force in dealings with contractors, allegedly acting as the intermediary to receive cash payments and dictate amounts, while evidence also links the mayor to the same offenses.
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