Prosecutor charges Netanyahu’s wife with fraud: justice ministry

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JERUSALEM, June 21, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s wife Sara was charged on Thursday with fraud and breach of trust
after a long police probe into allegations she falsified household expenses,
the justice ministry said.

“The Jerusalem district prosecutor a short time ago filed charges against
the prime minister’s wife,” the ministry said.

The allegations announced last year are that she and an aide falsely
declared there were no cooks available at the prime minister’s official
residence and ordered from outside caterers at public expense. The cost
amounted to “over 350,000 shekels ($97,000))”, the justice ministry said.

She has denied any wrongdoing.

Her husband is himself under investigation on suspicion of corruption
offences.

In one case, he and family members are suspected of receiving one million
shekels ($285,000, 240,000 euros) worth of luxury cigars, champagne and
jewellery from wealthy personalities in exchange for financial or personal
favours.

In the other case, investigators suspect the premier of trying to reach an
agreement with the owner of Yediot Aharonot, a top Israeli newspaper, for
more favourable coverage.

Netanyahu has protested his innocence and vowed to remain in power, saying
he is the victim of a “witch-hunt”.

He also faces suspicions of government favours that allegedly saw
regulatory breaks go to Israel’s largest telecom firm Bezeq, in return for
favourable coverage of him and his wife by a news website.

Despite his troubles, opinion polls suggest Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud
party would remain the largest in parliament if elections scheduled for
November 2019 were held now.