Home of PM’s ex-custodian reportedly burgled
Menny Naftali says intruders at his Afula residence were looking for documents
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The home of a former caretaker at the Prime Minister’s Residence was broken into on Friday, he said.
Menny Naftali, who is suing the Netanyahu estate for 1.1 million shekels ($278,600) in a labor dispute, filed a report with police after finding his Afula home ransacked.
Naftali had been visiting his mother during the incident and said no valuables were stolen. He alleged that the intruders were looking for documents, according to a report by Ynet.
“My mother underwent surgery, we were with her. We came back and now our Sabbath has been ruined,” Naftali told Channel 10, after the break-in.
“But it’s ok, I’m very strong. I’m determined and I believe everything will be alright,” he added.
The news came a week after Naftali complained of receiving numerous death threats over his testimony that accused the prime minister and his wife, Sara, of financial misconduct at their official residence in Jerusalem and their private home in Caesarea, a wealthy coastal community south of Haifa.
A spending report released by State Comptroller Yosef Shapira last Tuesday detailed lavish spending by Netanyahu and his wife and alleged possible criminal misdeeds by the two.
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein said his office would open a preliminary investigation into the alleged financial misconduct, but only after the upcoming elections. He is expected to summon employees at the official residence for interrogation.
Police have said that the Netanyahus may also be called in for questioning. Weinstein said the prime minister is not a suspect.
Naftali testified with the Lahav 433 fraud investigation unity earlier in the month for a marathon 11 hours with the Israel Police against Netanyahu after receiving limited immunity from prosecution. He reportedly provided documents and recordings detailing alleged financial abuse by the couple.
The Likud publicly blamed Naftali for much of the excessive spending at the Prime Minister’s Residence and at the Netanyahus’ home in Caesarea that was detailed in the comptroller’s report. Infuriated, Naftali, who was already involved in legal proceedings against the Netanyahus, returned to the police and offered further testimony.
On the basis of the state comptroller’s report, suspects could face criminal charges over the accusation that Sara Netanyahu pocketed some NIS 4,000 ($1,035) of bottle refunds for recycling. Accusations that she purchased a set of patio furniture identical to the patio furniture at the official residence, which was subsequently delivered to the Netanyahu’s private residence, could also lead to charges.
A third alleged scandal, over a scheme to overpay electrician Avi Pachima — an apparent Likud apparatchik — by inviting him to do work on weekends and holidays and a subsequent cover-up, may also result in criminal charges.
The allegations amount to suspicions of “low level” criminality, a Channel 2 TV report said last Friday, and a formal police investigation of the Netanyahus “appears inescapable… if only to clear away the cloud of suspicion.”
“The police are preparing to take testimony,” Channel 2 reported last Friday, “and it is not inconceivable that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs. Netanyahu will be asked to give testimony.”
David Shimron, the Netanyahu family lawyer, said last Friday that Naftali was not a credible witness, and added that the state comptroller’s “minor” report did not contain allegations of criminal behavior.
Last Thursday, Netanyahu hired top criminal lawyer Jacob Weinroth to defend him in any potential criminal investigation that could emerge from Naftali’s allegations, and from the accusations of abuse of funds at the Prime Minister’s Residence detailed in the state comptroller’s report.
Outside of the 1.1 million NIS suit, Naftali also separately sued Netanyahu for libel following an interview where Netanyahu said Naftali had been fired, even though he claims to have resigned.
Naftali recently asked the Jerusalem Labor Court to summon Sara Netanyahu to testify, and she is set to appear at the court after the elections.
The Times of Israel Community.