Katsav's brother: Police didn’t look for truth
President's associates maintain atmosphere of 'business as usual', make it clear Katsav will attend opening of Knesset's winter session Monday. President's attorney says he is concerned over police's conduct. Complainant's attorney: Truth wins out
"He will arrive at the Knesset nonetheless and in any case, as he is innocent until proven guilty," they said, referring to the opening of the Knesset's winter session Monday.
Zion Amir, the president's attorney, responded to the accusations: "The police have no legal status to submit such recommendations. The attorney general, who is aware of the investigation material and is involved in at least some of it, has so far not announced that there is evidential basis against the president.
"As far as we are concerned, the only element authorized to check and submit recommendations is the attorney general. I would like to note that this is not the first time the police submit recommendations on former prime ministers, which were rejected by the attorney generals – so we must wait for the attorney general's decision, and any remarks made at this stage are completely unnecessary."
As for the new suspicion that the president harassed a witness, Attorney Amir said: "We have no idea what it's about."
Referring to the recommendation not to indict A., he added that "I can express my great surprise over this recommendation made by the police. This recommendation causes a lot of concern over the way the investigation has been held."
Complainant's attorney: Truth is on our side
Associates of complainant A. continued to point out that they had continuously claimed that the president was guilty, and they now feel that the truth has come out.
Attorney Kineret Barashi, the complainant's lawyer, told Ynet: "Throughout the way I stood behind the complainant's version and we said that the truth is on our side and that only the truth will win. Today it turns out that the truth wins out. This is a long and not so easy period, but when the truth comes out it justifies the tough road."
The president's brother, former Kiryat Malachi Mayor Lior Katsav, told Ynet: "There is nothing new in the statement issued by the police today. From the first day of the investigation, the police announced that they plan to indict the president.
"Unfortunately, I got the impression that the police was not looking for the truth, but wanted to indict the State of Israel's president at any price. it is worth stressing that the police are accusing the president of everything, expect for the murder of Arlozorov (leader of the Zionist labor movement)."
According to Lior Katsav, "not one of the women arrived at the police out of her own initiative and asked to file a complaint against the president. They all arrived at the police after the police persuaded them to come and make up lies against the president.
"The investigation was conducted in a negligent and tendentious manner. As far as I know, there is no evidence justifying an indictment. I hope and believe that with God's help, the attorney general will not accept the police's recommendation."
Asked how the family felt regarding the fact that Complainant A. was not indicted, Lior Katsav answered: "I see it as more than surprising that the police do not recommend that Miss A. be indicted, while there is precise documentation documenting her blackmail attempt against the president."
The police representatives met Sunday with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and State Prosecutor Eran Shendar and handed over the complete investigation file. According to the police, there is evidence that the president committed rape, forceful indecent assault and sexual harassment against several women.
The evidence also includes recommendations to charge the president for fraud, breach of trust and illegal wire-tapping. The president is also suspected of obstruction of justice and harassing a witness – one of the witnesses which provided the police with information on the affair.
Ilan Marciano and Attila Somfalvi contributed to the report
