Petah Tikva Mayor Rami Greenberg faces possible bribery charges over 2018 election funding

Petah Tikva Mayor Rami Greenberg, the municipality's director-general, and eight other suspects may face criminal charges in a case involving alleged bribery and the funding of Greenberg's 2018 election campaign, the State Attorney's Office announced on Sunday.The office's Economic Department notified their lawyers that State Attorney Amit Aisman is considering bringing charges, subject to pre-indictment hearings. The offenses under consideration include bribery, fraud and breach of trust, forgery, and tax offenses, with the allegations differing according to each suspect's role.The hearings will give the suspects an opportunity to argue against prosecution before a final decision is made. Greenberg's lawyer, Ofer Bartal, denied the allegations, saying the money his client received consisted of loans that were subsequently repaid with interest, Ynet reported. The story begins in 2018, when Greenberg is suspected of receiving benefits worth more than NIS 1 million during his campaign for mayor. According to prosecutors, businessmen and associates helped finance his campaign expenses in what they allege amounted to bribery.Greenberg won that election, defeating incumbent mayor Itzik Braverman, meaning that the alleged payments concern the campaign that brought him to the mayor's office.Greenberg accused of indirect bribery through campaign fundingAccording to the prosecution, Greenberg in return carried out - or committed to carrying out - actions as part of his public position, including after he had been elected…