President under interrogation – second day: Thursday's interrogation of President Moshe Katsav for alleged sexual harassment and suspicions of granting amnesties in exchange for payments has come to an end.
President Katsav was interrogated for about five hours at his office in Jerusalem, and this time he was forced to face the testimony of his former secretary, as it was provided to the police.
A few days ago police confiscated documents and a computer from the President’s Residence to see whether he was corresponding with the complainant, but Katsav’s associates said the president does not own an e-mail account and does not correspond with anyone via e-mail.
The associates also denied claims that Katsav granted amnesties in exchange for payments.
At 9:30 a.m., the team of investigators, led by Brigadier General Yoav Segalovich, entered the President's Residence in order to continue the investigation. The investigators delved into the details of the complainant's claims that she was forced to have sexual intercourse with the president.
In Wednesday's interrogation ,the president was questioned on his claims that he was blackmailed by his former employee and was then interrogated under caution following her complaint that she was forced to have sexual intercourse with him.
The investigators asked the president general questions and did not delve into details.
Katsav's attorney Zion Amir said Wednesday that "Katsav never sexually harassed a man or a woman."
Rape, unlawful intercourse or indecent assault?
The police are interrogating President Katsav on suspicion of sexual offenses. According to the law, there are several clauses he may be indicted of, the most severe one being rape, followed by unlawful intercourse, sodomy, sexual harassment and indecent assault.
The investigators have so far not decided which suspicions to ascribe to Katsav.
Brigadier General Segalovich arrives at President's Residence (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
According to estimations, at the end of the president's interrogation, the investigators will return to the complainant and question her once again, in light of Katsav's answers. She may also be asked to confront the president.
On Sunday, the investigators are expected to meet with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and State Prosecutor Eran Shendar and present them with a situation report on the investigation.
Officials at the President's Office told Ynet that Katsav had planned to take a family vacation with his children and grandchildren on Thursday, but in light of the recent developments he decided to cancel the vacation in order not to interrupt the investigation.
The president's aides said that on Wednesday, when the investigation team asked to end the interrogation and continue on Thursday, Katsav insisted on continuing the questioning. The investigators, however, decided to end the interrogation at that point due to time constraints.
Katsav’s attorney Zion Amir said following the interrogation Wednesday that “the president is committed to cooperating with the investigation and to make himself available to investigators at all times, even at the expense of personal obligations and planned family vacations.”
Amir stressed that “the president has never acted illegally; he did not sexually harass any woman or man. I will not elaborate on the president's exact version, but it is clear from my answers that his version leaves no doubts."
Aviram Zino contributed to the report
First published: 09:48, 08.24.6