Sara Netanyahu's fraud and breach of trust trial begins in Jerusalem
Case of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife brings renewed attention to scandals plaguing Israel’s first family
Associated Press
Sun 7 Oct 2018 15.47 BST Last modified on Sun 7 Oct 2018 20.20 BST
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife appeared in court on Sunday for the start of her trial over alleged fraud and breach of trust, drawing renewed attention to the many scandals plaguing her husband and their family.
Sara Netanyahu has been charged with allegedly overspending roughly $100,000 (£76,220) on celebrity chefs at the prime minister’s official residence, even though there was a full-time chef on staff.
Netanyahu appeared before the Jerusalem’s magistrates court but made no remarks before the press was asked to leave.
Transcripts from police investigations have been leaked to the media. In them she complains about the quality of the food served at the prime minister’s residence and uses expletives to describe the staff.
Netanyahu has long faced allegations of extravagant spending and abusive behaviour. In 2016, a court ruled she abused a housekeeper and awarded the man $42,000 (£32,000) in damages. Other former employees have also claimed mistreatment and accused her of charging the state for her private and lavish tastes.
The prime minister has slammed the indictment, calling the allegations against his wife “baseless and delusional”. The family has vehemently denied wrongdoing and claim they are the victims of a political witch-hunt driven by a hostile media.
According to her indictment, Netanyahu acted “to circumvent the rules and conditions” governing the prime minister’s official residence “in order to fraudulently obtain state funding for various expenses for the accused and her family that were not supposed to be financed in this manner.”
Netanyahu’s lawyers have argued she was oblivious to the regulations and that the meals were ordered by an assistant and served to visiting dignitaries.
If convicted, she could face a maximum sentence of five years behind bars for the most serious charge, though that appears unlikely.
The indictment is one of a series of scandals encircling the prime minister and his family, and threatening to solidify their reputation as overindulgent and out of touch with the Israeli people.
Police questioned the prime minister for several hours on Friday as part of investigations into alleged corruption by the long-serving premier.
Israeli police have already recommended indicting him for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in two separate cases. In one case, the prime minister is suspected of accepting lavish gifts from a pair of billionaire friends. In another, he is accused of promoting regulations that provided hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits to Israeli telecom giant Bezeq in exchange for positive media coverage.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/07/sara-benjamin-netanyahu-and-breach-of-trust-trial-begins-in-jerusalem
Case of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife brings renewed attention to scandals plaguing Israel’s first family
Associated Press
Sun 7 Oct 2018 15.47 BST Last modified on Sun 7 Oct 2018 20.20 BST
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife appeared in court on Sunday for the start of her trial over alleged fraud and breach of trust, drawing renewed attention to the many scandals plaguing her husband and their family.
Sara Netanyahu has been charged with allegedly overspending roughly $100,000 (£76,220) on celebrity chefs at the prime minister’s official residence, even though there was a full-time chef on staff.
Netanyahu appeared before the Jerusalem’s magistrates court but made no remarks before the press was asked to leave.
Transcripts from police investigations have been leaked to the media. In them she complains about the quality of the food served at the prime minister’s residence and uses expletives to describe the staff.
Netanyahu has long faced allegations of extravagant spending and abusive behaviour. In 2016, a court ruled she abused a housekeeper and awarded the man $42,000 (£32,000) in damages. Other former employees have also claimed mistreatment and accused her of charging the state for her private and lavish tastes.
The prime minister has slammed the indictment, calling the allegations against his wife “baseless and delusional”. The family has vehemently denied wrongdoing and claim they are the victims of a political witch-hunt driven by a hostile media.
According to her indictment, Netanyahu acted “to circumvent the rules and conditions” governing the prime minister’s official residence “in order to fraudulently obtain state funding for various expenses for the accused and her family that were not supposed to be financed in this manner.”
Netanyahu’s lawyers have argued she was oblivious to the regulations and that the meals were ordered by an assistant and served to visiting dignitaries.
If convicted, she could face a maximum sentence of five years behind bars for the most serious charge, though that appears unlikely.
The indictment is one of a series of scandals encircling the prime minister and his family, and threatening to solidify their reputation as overindulgent and out of touch with the Israeli people.
Police questioned the prime minister for several hours on Friday as part of investigations into alleged corruption by the long-serving premier.
Israeli police have already recommended indicting him for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in two separate cases. In one case, the prime minister is suspected of accepting lavish gifts from a pair of billionaire friends. In another, he is accused of promoting regulations that provided hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits to Israeli telecom giant Bezeq in exchange for positive media coverage.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/07/sara-benjamin-netanyahu-and-breach-of-trust-trial-begins-in-jerusalem
