Kfar Saba Mayor arrested on suspiction of bribery
The court extended Mayor Yehuda Ben-Hamo's remand by seven days, who was one of 14 suspects arrested on Monday for involvement in suspected bribery at the Kfar Saba Municipality.
The suspects were arrested on charges of bribery, theft, aggravated fraud, breach of trust and anti-money laundering. In the application for the remand extension, it was stated that "the suspects are involved in the felonies attributed to them by taking part in the entire bribery industry in the city of Kfar Saba."
During deliberations on Ben-Hamo's extension remand, it was revealed that an undercover police investigation had been on-going for the past two years. According to police, the mayor was under surveillance, and "the investigation's findings raise serious concerns of ingrown public corruption within the Kfar Saba Municipality abusing power of the mayor."
It was also stated that the police is in possession of evidence on the ways in which bribes were transferred. During the discussion, one such instance came up where gift certificates worth thousands of shekels were transferred from a well-known Kfar Saba contractor to a senior Municipality official.
The mayor's attorney, Boaz Ben Tzur, denied Ben-Hamo had received bribery and noted that he doesn't even own an apartment, nor does he have any other properties to his name. Among the detainees, there was also a well-known contractor and a businessman.
Monday morning, police raided the city hall's offices. During the operation, the suspects' homes, their offices and other relevant sites were searched as well.
The former Kfar Saba Deputy Mayor Ilai Harsgor Hendin told Ynet that ""This is nothing short of an earthquake for Kfar Saba residents, though I'm not completely surprised to hear of these things. I have recently received information on serious matters taking palce in CIty Hall. This is about more than one affair; this is about municipal wrokers forced to do things against the law, and I am very sad that Kfar Saba has come to this.
"I have recently received information on serious matters taking palce in CIty Hall. This is about more than one affair; this is about municipal wrokers forced to do things against the law, and I am very sad that Kfar Saba has come to this." he added.
