Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Sa'ar Remand Extended Until Thursday in Corruption Probe
The remand of Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Sa'ar and his wife Meital has been extended until Thursday as police investigate severe corruption suspicions.
The remand of Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Sa'ar has been extended until Thursday following an agreement between the defense and the police. The court ruled that Sa'ar will be brought before a judge once more on Thursday, at which point he is expected to be released under conditions to be determined. His defense attorney, Micha Fetman, requested that the release conditions be kept as lenient as possible, noting that the family is facing financial difficulties. During the hearing, family members shouted words of encouragement, calling out, "We love you, brother Rafi."
At the conclusion of the session, Fetman explained that the agreement to extend the remand stemmed from a desire to focus on the imminent release on Thursday. "Today we agreed to extend the remand of the Kfar Saba mayor until Thursday, with the understanding that the release on Thursday is the most important part right now," he said. According to Fetman, this step does not reinforce the allegations against him. "We are confident that the truth will ultimately lead to the conclusion that not even an indictment will be filed against him."
Prior to the hearing, Fetman addressed the possibility of the police securing a state's witness. He noted that if investigators fail to recruit a state's witness by Thursday, Sa'ar is expected to be released under restricted terms. Conversely, a breakthrough in securing such a witness could prompt police to seek a modification or an extension of the detention.
Meanwhile, the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court ordered the release of Eliran Dostan to ten days of house arrest. The detention of Eitan Sapir was extended by five days until Thursday, after which he will also transition to ten days of house arrest, alongside travel bans and restrictions barring him from municipal offices. Sapir is represented by Attorney Zion Amir.
Meital Sa'ar Breaks Down in Tears
Meital Sa'ar, the mayor's wife, also had her detention extended until Thursday. Her defense attorney, Chaya Zion Zakai, argued that her client's mental state is extremely fragile and that she has lost five kilograms since her arrest. Zion Zakai asked the court to evaluate whether the circumstances justify continued detention, particularly regarding obstruction of justice allegations.
Judge Menachem Mizrahi indicated at the opening of the proceedings that her detention would likely be extended on par with the others. Entering the courtroom with a stoic expression, Meital Sa'ar eventually broke down in tears, appealing to journalists present: "Why the media? I have two daughters going to school tomorrow." Her attorney emphasized that she is a 42-year-old mother with no criminal record who is cooperating with legal advice to maintain her right to silence during interrogations.
Police Strengthen Case as Investigation Continues
Investigators from the National Fraud Unit (Yahab) within Lahav 433 stated that new evidence has been gathered, strengthening the suspicions of bribery, tender rigging, and other severe offenses against Rafi Sa'ar, his wife, and other associates. Police maintain that the investigation is progressing successfully.
Conversely, Rafi Sa'ar maintains his innocence, claiming he had no knowledge of any illicit activities within the municipality or actions attributed to his wife. Meanwhile, local residents expressed profound disappointment over the scandal involving consecutive municipal administrations, lamenting the impact on the city's reputation.
