Katsav defends rape charges

JERUSALEM – Attorneys for Israel’s President Moshe Katsav were due yesterday to present his defence on charges including rape before the attorney general, said a justice ministry spokesperson.

“Mr Katsav’s lawyers will defend their client during a hearing with attorney general Menahem Mazuz due to start at 08h00 GMT at the justice ministry,” he said. Mazuz has said he intends to indict the president – who is on leave from his largely ceremonial post – on a slew of charges including rape, sexual harassment, abuse of power, breach of trust and accepting bribes.Yesterday’s hearing is Katsav’s sole opportunity to defend himself before the attorney general decides whether to press ahead with the charges.The 61-year-old president took a leave of absence in late January.Rape in Israel carries a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison.Although Katsav temporarily suspended himself from duty, he retains immunity from prosecution.His mandate expires in July.Katsav has insisted he is innocent and rejected intense pressure from the Israeli public and politicians of all persuasions to resign.He faces the prospect of becoming the country’s second consecutive president to be forced from office by scandal, ending his career in disgrace and perhaps prison.His predecessor, the late Ezer Weizman, was forced to resign in 2000 after revelations that he received about $450 000 from French millionaire Edouard Saroussi in the 1980s when Weizman was an MP and minister.Nampa-AFPMazuz has said he intends to indict the president – who is on leave from his largely ceremonial post – on a slew of charges including rape, sexual harassment, abuse of power, breach of trust and accepting bribes.Yesterday’s hearing is Katsav’s sole opportunity to defend himself before the attorney general decides whether to press ahead with the charges.The 61-year-old president took a leave of absence in late January.Rape in Israel carries a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison.Although Katsav temporarily suspended himself from duty, he retains immunity from prosecution.His mandate expires in July.Katsav has insisted he is innocent and rejected intense pressure from the Israeli public and politicians of all persuasions to resign.He faces the prospect of becoming the country’s second consecutive president to be forced from office by scandal, ending his career in disgrace and perhaps prison.His predecessor, the late Ezer Weizman, was forced to resign in 2000 after revelations that he received about $450 000 from French millionaire Edouard Saroussi in the 1980s when Weizman was an MP and minister.Nampa-AFP