Netanyahu’s wife takes lie test as she faces fraud indictment

SARA NETANYAHU, the wife of the Israeli Prime Minister, has undergone a lie-detector test in an attempt to deflect allegations that she misused public funds.

Police are investigating her on fraud and breach of trust charges after the former caretaker of her official residence claimed she told him to inflate the number of guests at dinners and to record their purpose as state instead of private in order to receive more money for them. She has denied the charges.

Avi Hadad, the owner of the company that conducted the test, said that, “upon examination of the test, we did not find in Mrs Netanyahu’s answers to the relevant questions any physiological responses which would indicate she is lying”. The results of private liedetector tests are not admissible in Israeli courts because they are not believed to be reliable.

The news of the test came amid reports on Israeli television that the attorney general was expected to indict Mrs Netanyahu by Sept 10.

Her husband, Benjamin Netanyahu, is also under investigation in two corruption cases.

The first relates to suspicion that he received illegal gifts from wealthy supporters, and the second alleges that he attempted to improperly arrange favourable coverage from a daily newspaper in exchange for legislation that would have hurt its competitor.

He denies all allegations of wrongdoing, and is not required to stand down unless convicted.