Israeli PM Netanyahu's wife to face criminal charges over expenses

Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is set to stand trial after accusations involving the use of state money for private expenses.

The country’s attorney general Avichai Mandelbit said on Friday he had decided to bring the case to Netanyahu after considering a wealth of evidence.

Netanyahu is suspected of having used $100,000 of state funds for catering purposes, according to the Israeli ministry of justice.

The statement from Mandelbit’s office said the Israeli first lady had claimed costs for hiring private chefs and preparing food externally, whilst covering up that there was a cook already employed at the residence.

"In this way, hundreds of meals from restaurants and chefs were fraudulently received in the order of 359,000 shekels ($100,000)" a statement from the attorney general's office said.

"Because of that the attorney general is considering to indict Mrs Netanyahu in offences of fraudulently receiving property under grave circumstances, fraud and breach of trust."

The prime minister has vehemently denied any accusations brought against his wife, and said following the announcement that the claims were 'absurd'.

Netanyahu himself is currently under investigation as a result of several corruption probes into his actions as prime minister.