Police again question Sara Netanyahu

PMO condemns investigation into use of state funds for private purposes, insists ‘there was nothing’ irregular

Police on Thursday again questioned Sara Netanyahu over alleged financial irregularities at the Prime Minister’s residence.

As she faced investigators, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the investigation, saying that the allegations against her were baseless.

“Once again we say, there was nothing, because there is nothing,” he said in a statement published by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Police said they were re-questioning Sara Netanyahu after new evidence came to light in a case against her. Ezra Saidoff, a former deputy director for operations at the Prime Minister’s Office, was also due to be interrogated on Thursday, according to Israel Radio.

Ezra Saidoff, deputy director of the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on May 10, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) — Ezra Saidoff, deputy director of the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on May 10, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

In May, Israel police recommended prosecuting the prime minister’s wife for aggravated fraud for allegedly appropriating public funds earmarked for the Prime Minister’s Residence for private use.

But during a review of the case, the State Prosecutor’s Office asked the police to continue investigating. As a result, new evidence has since come to light, according to Channel 10.

The new evidence emerged in a long session of testimony given by a former caretaker at the PM’s residence, Menny Naftali, on November 1 to the Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit, according to Channel 10.

Naftali was awarded NIS 170,000 (about $43,735) in damages in February, after a labor court accepted his claims of mistreatment by Mrs. Netanyahu during his employment at the Prime Minister’s Residence.

He had provided extensive descriptions of humiliation, racist remarks and angry fits that he allegedly suffered at the hands of Sara Netanyahu.

Sara Netanyahu has been accused of improper behavior and misuse of state funds relating to the Prime Minister’s Residence, including receiving goods under false pretenses, falsifying documents and breach of trust.

Two of the cases involve her using state money to order food for personal use, and a third case involves using public funds to pay for a caretaker for her elderly father.

Menny Naftali, the former caretaker at the Prime Minister's Residence, at the Jerusalem District Labor Court, March 25, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) — Menny Naftali, the former caretaker at the Prime Minister’s Residence, at the Jerusalem District Labor Court, March 25, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing and has claimed in the past that she is a victim of a plot to topple the Prime Minister and that former employees have been paid to testify against her.

Sue Surkes contributed to this report.