Another political scandal just blowed in the face of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , as his wife was senteced, hours ago, by a Jerusalem magistrate court to pay a fine of more than $15,000 for misusing state funds.
The sentencing comes after Sara Netanyahu agreed to a plea bargain that ended the years-long saga of just one of the high-profile corruption cases involving the prime minister's family.
According to the court papers, Sara Netanyahu had misused some $100,000 in state money on lavish meals. She was indicted on charges of fraud and breach of trust last year after the State Attorney's office accused her of running up large tabs at luxury restaurants while the official residence employed a full-time chef between the years 2010 and 2013.
The settlement implies her confession to a more minor charge of "intentionally exploiting the mistake of someone else," specifically by misleading officials who didn't realize she had already benefited from chefs on the government payroll.
Sara Netanyahu will pay $2,800 in fines and hand the remaining $12,500 back to the state. The settlement also reduced the overspending charge to $50,000.
According to AP, the prime minister and his wife have a reputation for leading indulgent lives at public expense, out of touch with most Israelis. The 60-year-old Sara Netanyahu in particular has been accused of excessive spending, using public money for her private, extravagant tastes and abusive behavior toward her personal staff. In 2016, a court ruled Sara Netanyahu mistreated a house cleaner and awarded the man $42,000 in damages. Other employees have accused her of abuse, charges the Netanyahus reject. Another former housekeeper is currently suing Sara Netanyahu for $63,000 in damages over mistreatment and harassment.
Netanyahu himself remains the main focus of the family's repeated legal troubles. He is facing an indictment on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, pending a hearing scheduled for early October. He is accused of accepting lavish gifts from billionaire friends and promising to promote advantageous legislation for a major newspaper in exchange for favorable coverage.
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