Haim Ramon. Publish testimony
Photo: Niv Calderon
Complainant. Behind closed doors
Photo: Niv Calderon
Ramon: Publish complainant's testimony against me
'This request is intended to reveal huge gap between what was published in media and attributed to me, and what complainant attributes to me in her testimony,' Ramon explains request submitted to court
Former Justice Minister Haim Ramon turned Thursday to the Tel Aviv Magistrate Court with a request to publish the testimony of the complainant during his trial without publishing her name in response to a petition submitted by the media outlets.
Ramon declared that he agrees to the publication of her testimony even though his testimony has yet to be heard in court, "In order to reveal to the public the huge gap between what was published in the media and attributed to me, and what the complainant attributes to me in her testimony."
In his statements, Ramon is referring to various publications according to which he allegedly attacked the complainant, forcibly laid her on the desk and kissed her.
The prosecution is opposed to publishing the testimony in the media claiming that "it won't do anything other than satisfy voyeuristic tendencies."
The prosecution also claimed that a trial is held behind closed doors in order to ensure a safe environment for the complainants of sexual offenses to give an open and unhindered testimony in court with confidence that whatever they say stays within the walls of the courthouse and to protect their privacy.
Ramon's lawyers, Dan Sheinman and Navit Negev, claim that the prosecution's intense opposition is unclear to them saying that the prosecution isn't explaining how publishing the testimony without any identifying details harms the complainant, especially after the numerous publications that have already been made on the topic.
"It wasn't fair that the prosecution could pass on versions of the event to the media while opposing the publication of the complainant's testimony," said Ramon's lawyer.
