Kfar Saba Mayor's Wife Detained Amid Corruption Probe
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
Mital Sa'ar, wife of Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Sa'ar, had her detention extended until Thursday as part of a corruption investigation involving bribery and tender manipulation. Police suspect she received cash from businessmen to influence bids on municipal projects, allegedly with her husband's involvement. Investigators seized nearly 300,000 shekels from the couple's home. Both Sa'ars deny wrongdoing, though Mital Sa'ar is remaining silent.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Mital Sa'ar, wife of Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Sa'ar, was detained until Thursday amid a corruption investigation.
- She is suspected of receiving bribes in cash to manipulate municipal tenders and projects.
- Police seized nearly 300,000 shekels in cash from the couple's home.
- Investigators suspect Sa'ar collaborated with her husband and a municipal official.
- Both Sa'ars deny wrongdoing, but Mital Sa'ar is exercising her right to remain silent.
A Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court on Monday extended the detention of Mital Sa'ar, wife of Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Sa'ar, until Thursday. She is being investigated for alleged public corruption, bribery, and manipulation of municipal tenders and projects. Sa'ar has remained silent during questioning on her lawyer's advice. Police agreed to release her to house arrest after her detention period ends, unless significant developments occur in the investigation. The case centers on suspicions that Sa'ar received bribes from businessmen and contractors, mostly in cash, in exchange for facilitating their winning bids on large municipal projects. These projects reportedly include sanitation, educational facility renovations, infrastructure, urban renewal, and mobile food truck tenders.
Police suspect Mital Sa'ar played a pivotal role in communicating with businessmen and receiving funds from them, despite holding no official municipal position. Investigators believe she used her husband's influence to advance the interests of these individuals and secure them contracts. The court had previously extended the couple's detention, describing the suspicions against Mital Sa'ar as strong, with indications of illegal fund receipt. Police also suspect the couple collaborated with Shagi Han, the General Director of the Municipal Economic Company, to steer projects to favored businessmen.
In connection with the case, police arrested the mayor, his wife, and 15 other suspects, while an additional seven individuals were brought in for questioning. During searches, approximately one million shekels in cash were seized from several suspects, including nearly 300,000 shekels from the couple's home and Mital Sa'ar's mother's home, along with luxury items. Investigators are also examining suspicions that a businessman provided Mital Sa'ar with a personal credit card linked to a digital bank account in Italy. Additionally, a loan agreement for 2.5 million shekels between Sa'ar and a businessman was found, though it remains unclear if the funds were transferred.
Mital Sa'ar maintains her right to silence, while her husband, Rafi Sa'ar, denies any wrongdoing and pledges cooperation with investigators. His lawyers assert that he has not received illegal funds and that his wife acted independently, contradicting police suspicions of their collaboration. The investigation is ongoing, and no final indictments have been filed.
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