Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is expected to be indicted over allegations that she fraudulently received items worth 400,000 Israeli shekels (Dh411,000).
Israeli newspaper Haaretz said that Mrs Netanyahu is suspected of ordering expensive meals made by a chef to the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem, which is not permitted, and subsequently concealing the expenses incurred.
Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit is expected to inform the prime minister’s wife of the charges against her in a few weeks, Haaretz added.
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Mrs Netanyahu has denied the claims, instead accusing the former chief caretaker of the official residence, Meni Naftali, of inflating the expenses. The prime minister even accused Mr Naftali, who is leading protests against Mr Netanyahu, of stealing food at a rally last week.
However, a senior police official told the paper: “This phenomenon began before Naftali came to work at the residence and continued after he was fired.”
Mr Netanyahu played down the investigation while speaking to supporters earlier this year.
“They’re dealing with the most important things in the world,” he said sarcastically.
“The procedure for replacing a light bulb, trays of food, the cup of tea that was served to her father, a righteous man, on his deathbed.”
