Netanya mayor placed on house arrest over bribery suspicions

Court bars Miriam Feirberg from entering city hall, as police claim it could hamper criminal investigation

By ToI Staff 13 September 2016, 5:59 pm

Edit

Netanya Mayor Miriam Feirberg attends a campaign event on February 24, 2015, in Netanya (Gili Yaari/Flash90)

Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday placed Netanya Mayor Miriam Feirberg-Ikar under house arrest for 15 days, as part of an investigation into suspected bribe-taking in the city.

Feirberg was also barred from entering Netanya city hall until November 7. The mayor is accused of systematically accepting millions of shekels in bribes in return for promoting certain construction projects. She is also accused of money-laundering, fraud and breach of trust.

A police representative told the court that Feirberg’s return to city hall would have a negative impact on their investigation.

“Feirberg has coordinated testimony with witnesses and fabricated evidence,” the police said. “There is a risk that if she returns to city hall she could seriously harm the investigation.”

View of new buildings being constructed in the coastal city of Netanya on September 07, 2016. (Lior Mizrahi/Flash90)

Feirberg, however, struck a positive note upon her exit from the court, having spent the past days in police custody.

“I feel great,” she said, according to Walla news.

The mayor was arrested on September 7, two days after her son Tzafrir Feirberg was detained along with three others for their alleged roles in the affair.

Tzafrir Feirberg is accused of accepting bribes on behalf of his mother and was placed under house arrest for 12 days. According to Haaretz newspaper, the 42-year-old was released on condition that he not have any contact with his family, nor is he allowed to have contact with any of the other suspects in the case for the next 60 days.

Along with the two Feirbergs, a total of six other people have been arrested for their alleged part in the scheme. The six include the head of the local works and development committee, Rabbi Shimon Sher; developer Avraham Tshuva; attorney Avraham Gogig; and architect Gabi Tetro.

Netanya City Council member Rabbi Shimon Sher brought for a court hearing at the Rishon Lezion Magistrate court on September 7, 2016. (Avi Dishi/Flash90)

The officials and contractors in the coastal city are suspected of bribery, fraud, money laundering and tax offenses. Police suspect senior city hall officials and their associates worked to promote the interests of contractors and entrepreneurs in exchange for bribes and other benefits. Municipal officials allegedly did not report their conflicts of interest in dealing with the contractors.

The suspects’ homes and offices have been searched and their bank accounts and assets frozen in preparation for possible seizures.