Convicted of Rape, Former Israel Prez Faces Likely Prison Term
In what a prosecutor called a “badge of honor for Israeli democracy,” a former president of the country has been convicted of rape by a three-judge panel of a Tel Aviv court and faces a likely prison term.
Convicted of raping an employee in the 1990s while serving as minister of tourism in Israel and sexually harassing and abusing two others while subsequently serving as the country’s president, Moshe Katsav is scheduled to be sentenced in January, reports the New York Times.
Katsav looked shaken and made no comment as he left court today, but a son says his family believes he is innocent and will stand by him. He had made a controversial plea deal in 2007 that called for him to resign from office in exchange for a one-year suspended sentence and the payment of compensation, but opted in 2008 to back out and stand trial in an effort to prove his innocence.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Israel Prez Admits Sex Offenses, Resigns”
ABAJournal.com: “Israel Prez’s Plea Deal Not a Done Deal”
