Kfar Saba mayor, wife arrested over alleged corruption

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar, his wife, and 15 others were arrested in a large-scale corruption investigation involving alleged bribery and manipulation of municipal contracts. The probe, led by Lahav 433 and ongoing for over a year, implicates senior officials and local businesspeople in a scheme favoring certain companies, with further arrests expected as the inquiry continues.

Rafi Saar, the mayor of Kfar Saba, and his wife were arrested on Monday as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged public corruption, officials said. The operation, led by the National Fraud Investigations Unit of Lahav 433, also resulted in the arrest of 15 other individuals, including the director-general of Kfar Saba’s economic development company and several local businesspeople. Additionally, seven suspects were detained for questioning in connection with the case.

According to police, the investigation centers on suspicions that Saar, alongside other senior municipal officials and business figures, engaged in serious corruption offenses such as bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Authorities allege that tenders for municipal contracts covering services like cleaning and construction were manipulated to favor certain local companies in exchange for cash bribes and other benefits.

The sums involved in these contracts were described as substantial, and investigators indicated that Saar’s wife played a significant role in the alleged bribery scheme, particularly in efforts to secure contract awards for select businesspeople across various sectors of the municipality’s operations. The probe also points to the involvement of known criminal elements from central Israel, who are suspected of either directly or indirectly participating in the scheme over an extended period. Police are assessing whether these individuals assisted in securing contracts and if they were linked to any acts of violence related to the case.

The undercover investigation, which has been ongoing for more than a year, employed extensive intelligence-gathering techniques and investigative methods to collect evidence. On Monday, as the case entered a more public stage, police conducted raids on offices, businesses, and residences tied to the suspects, seizing cash and property as part of the operation.

All individuals apprehended were transported to the Lahav 433 headquarters for interrogation. Authorities indicated they may seek to extend the detention of the suspects at the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court as the investigation continues.

The probe is being carried out in coordination with the Economic Department of the State Attorney’s Office. As the investigation remains active, police cautioned that further developments and additional arrests remain possible.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.