Israeli PM’s wife admits misusing public funds
TEL AVIV - The wife of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted to misuse of state funds and will have to pay $15, 000.
Sara Netanyahu was accused of spending $99, 300 on outside catering while falsely declaring there were no cooks available at the PM’s residence.
She was charged with fraud and breach of trust last year. Her lawyer said the case had nothing to do with her and said it was an attempt to bring down her husband.
She will have a criminal record, the Jerusalem Post reported. Under the deal, Ms Netanyahu will repay the state $12, 490 and pay a fine of $2, 777.
Prosecutor Erez Padan said that the prosecution had made “significant concessions” that led to a “balanced and right plea deal.” He said the compromise had saved the court from calling on 80 witnesses.
“The prosecution is aware there isn’t full correlation between the sum and the criminal offence, however in the framework of the legal procedure, a full correlation is not obligatory,” he said.
Last year, Ms Netanyahu’s lawyers argued that she had not been made aware of the procedures about outside catering and that the meals had been ordered by the household manager and served to visiting dignitaries.
Responding to the charges, her husband said in a statement: “Sara Netanyahu is a strong and honourable woman and there has never been any fault in her actions.”
In 2016, a court awarded $47, 000 in damages to a former housekeeper who accused Ms Netanyahu of workplace abuse. The court accepted Meni Naftali’s claim that he had been insulted and verbally abused.