Kfar Saba mayor, wife suspected of fraud released to house arrest, forbidden to communicate

A court in central Israel ordered the release of Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife Meital Saar from police custody to house arrest on Thursday, as police continue investigating their alleged involvement in a bribery scheme. The couple is prohibited from speaking to each other until November 1, and Saar is barred from entering municipal facilities until November 15. Police suspect Meital managed the operation, using her position to advance business interests in exchange for money.

The Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court ordered the release of Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar and his wife Meital Saar from police custody to house arrest on Thursday, as police continue investigating their alleged involvement in a bribery scheme. Under the ruling, the couple is prohibited from speaking to each other until November 1, while Saar is barred from entering municipal facilities until November 15. Police had sought stricter restrictions, including a 60-day no-contact order and a 14-day house arrest for Meital, but Judge Yuval Keidar granted only part of the request. Meital Saar will remain under full house arrest until November 1, with release conditional on a NIS 50,000 cash deposit plus guarantees. Similar conditions were imposed on Rafi Saar. Police suspect that Meital managed the bribery operation, using her position to advance the interests of businesspeople in exchange for money, and that Saar knew about the payments and used his authority as mayor. The investigation focuses on municipal contracts, including permits for mobile food kiosks, urban renewal projects in the Yoseftal neighborhood, and school construction. Saar is suspected of accepting bribes, fraud, breach of trust, conspiracy, money laundering, and tax offenses. His wife is suspected of bribery, receiving improper benefits, and conspiracy. The National Fraud Investigation Unit of Lahav 433 is conducting the investigation. Attorneys for other suspects have accused police of seeking to keep clients in custody to pressure them into becoming state witnesses.