Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israel’s prime minister, has been formally notified that she is facing potential criminal charges for allegedly diverting tens of thousands of dollars of state money to use for private expenses.

The attorney general, Avichai Mandelblit, was considering prosecuting Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife for offences that include fraudulently procuring items, fraud and breach of trust, according to a justice ministry statement. Mandelblit, who was appointed by the prime minister, informed Sara Netanyahu on Friday that, having examined the evidence and heard the positions of the relevant authorities, he had decided to move forward. Netanyahu will be given a last opportunity to present her side of the case at an indictment hearing – an unusual step for a person who is not a public official. Benjamin Netanyahu is also under pressure as a result of several overlapping corruption investigations, which have gained pace in recent weeks. The allegations against Sara Netanyahu have been under investigation for more than two years, since Joseph Shapira, the state comptroller, issued a report on spending at the Netanyahus’ official residence.(theguardian)…[+]