Retired Supreme Court Justice Mishael Cheshin
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
President Moshe Katsav
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Retired Supreme Court justice: Katsav already convicted by media
Former Supreme Court justice Mishael Cheshin thinks time has come for Katsav to seriously consider his future. However, he believes president has been done injustice. Cheshin: If you ask me, Katsav has already been convicted in media. Judges must be made of steel in order to ignore what is written in newspapers
The same day on which the president didn't show up to the opening ceremony of the Knesset's winter session because of suspicions that he may have committed serious sexual offenses, former Supreme Court Justice Mishael Cheshin prepared an "indictment" against the media.
On the other hand, Judge Cheshin joins the position that the time has come for the president to consider his future. "Not just any cloud has accumulated above the president's head," said the judge, "but a cloud of lead."
In an interview with Ynet, the former justice said: "The media involvement has unequivocally damaged the judicial process. If you asked me, the president has already been convicted – so much so that tomorrow his prosecutors can get up and ask that the indictment be erased because there has been a ruling and he is already convicted."
Police Report
Efrat Weiss
Police representatives meet with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, State Prosecutor Eran Shendar and present them with complete investigation file. According to police, case includes sufficient evidence against president for raping, indecent assaulting and sexual harassing several women. Other evidence points to infractions regarding pardons, suspicion of illegal wire-tapping
In the former judge's opinion, the country's leaders cannot serve in their position if they are operating under such intense suspicions. "The judicial process indeed needs to be just, but when there are such suspicions it is difficult to envision the president continuing his term as normal. How can a person lead when there is such a dark cloud above him? Sometimes suspicions are enough for a president or prime minister to leave their post," Cheshin explained.
How do you see the media's involvement in the Katsav and Ramon affairs?
"There have always been leaks to the media. But lately there has been a sense that when there is a little foam, a raging and stormy river of leaks bursts forth. In the cabinet meeting, for instance, things are leaked to the media while the meeting is still in progress and this is terrible for the cabinet's affairs. This has reached its peak in the president's and Minister Ramon's scandals. I don't know at whom to point a finger, but I am referring also to the police and the authorities. There is a sense that the president's and Minister Ramon's trials are being slathered across the newspapers.
"The problem is that the courthouses are under immense pressure by all the media publications and a judge needs to be superhuman in order to disconnect himself from everything he has seen or heard and to hold the trial the way it should be. Judges are affected also in their subconscious because, at the end of the day, we live in a certain atmosphere.
"The media, for instance, has already acquitted Ramon. A judge needs to be made of steel in order to ignore everything he hears around him. If people of influence say you need to acquit someone, this has an effect. One person writes about it, and then another writes about it, and another, and another, and it reaches critical mass.
"It is forbidden for the police and the prosecution to deal with leaks. We need to stop this."
Leaks do an injustice to the president's trial?
"Yes. Plain and simple. Media involvement unequivocally damages the judicial process. The idea of the judicial process is to find justice in the courtroom. The whole way there is just preparation and the media doesn't have anything to look for there. All of this involvement is likely to affect the judges and the witness who are likely to be afraid. If you ask me, the president has already been convicted."
What is your opinion about Mazuz's remarks about the investigations against Ramon and Katsav in his television interview?
"It wasn't okay, but I'll explain what happened - everyone just provoked him."
