Wife of Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu convicted of using public money to order takeaways

Conviction of Sara Netanyahu stems from her ordering food from restaurants instead of eating meals cooked by the chef at the prime minister’s official residence

Netanyahu has a reputation for finding legal loopholes to receive state funding for her household’s relatively high expenses

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An Israeli man protesting outside the magistrates’ court in Jerusalem on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:21pm, 16 Jun 2019Updated: 8:33pm, 16 Jun 2019

An Israeli court on Sunday convicted the wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of fraudulently using state funds for meals, under a plea bargain which saw her admit to lesser charges.

While the ruling cut short a high-profile trial, the Netanyahu family’s legal woes are far from over: the veteran premier himself faces possible indictment for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in the coming months.

Lawyer Yossi Cohen and his client Sara Netanyahu in court in Jerusalem on Sunday. Photo: AFP

In a deal approved by judge Avital Chen at Jerusalem magistrates’ court, Sara Netanyahu was found guilty of exploiting the mistake of another person.

She was also fined 10,000 shekels (US$2,800) and ordered to reimburse the state a further 45,000 shekels.

“The deal reached between the sides is worthy and appropriately reflects the deeds and their severity on the criminal level,” Chen said in his ruling.