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Sara Netanyahu charged with misuse of public funds in 'meals-ordering' affair

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The Israeli prime minister’s wife and an aide allegedly falsified documents so that food from private chefs could be brought in, even though there was a full-time chef employed at her residence
JERUSALEM — Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was formally charged Thursday with fraud and breach of public trust in a long-running corruption case involving the use of outside caterers in the official prime minister’s residence, state prosecutors said in a statement.
According to the indictment filed by prosecutors in the Jerusalem District Court, Sara Netanyahu and the former deputy director of the prime minister’s office, Ezra Saidoff, were charged with ordering meals to the residence worth a total of $99,000 between 2010 and 2013.
Although the prime minister is not implicated in this case, the charges against his wife could have far-reaching consequences for his political standing and appear likely to damage his public image.
In February, the Israel police recommended indicting him in two corruption cases on suspicion of accepting bribes, fraud and breach of trust. He is also being investigated in a third case, and some of his close associates are being investigated in an additional case. The prime minister was questioned by police in that case last week.
In the case against Sara Netanyahu, which Israelis refer to as the “meals-ordering affair” the prime minister’s wife and Saidoff allegedly falsified documents so that food from outside companies and private chefs could be used, even though there was a full-time chef employed at the residence.
Details of the case were revealed by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in September. The indictment follows unsuccessful attempts to settle the matter outside court, with Sara Netanyahu refusing to pay back the amount she used for the meals and admit the allegations against her.

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