Tuesday: High Court to rule on Katsav plea deal

Court to hand down ruling on petitions filed against plea bargain that dropped rape charges in case against former president
Aviram Zino

The High Court is expected on Tuesday to hand down its ruling on the petitions filed by rights groups against the plea bargain signed between Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and Moshe Katsav, under which the former president agreed to plead guilty to sexual harassment, forcible indecent assault and harassing a witness in exchange for dropping the rape charges from the ongoing case against him.

Plea Bargain

Beinish: Katsav abused his power / Aviram Zino

High Court resumes discussion of petitions filed against plea bargain signed with former president. Deputy state attorney says no one at State Prosecutor's Office opposed deal; Supreme Court president not convinced best solution was found

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According to reports, Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish is having trouble in obtaining the necessary majority to annul the agreement. Channel 10 said three out of the five judges on the panel are in favor of upholding the plea deal.

The petitions filed against the plea bargain stated that "the extreme lack of reasonableness in Mazuz's decision stems from the fact that he backtracked on his original intention to indict the president with more serious accusations, including rape and serious indecent acts.

"Without the Attorney General receiving new evidence that could destroy the evidentiary basis that led him shortly beforehand to decide to issue the indictment, including very serious charges," according to the petitions.