Moshe Katsav
Photo: Hagai Aharon
_a.jpg "Photo: Gil Yohanan")
Complainant A. with her attorney
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Complainant against Katsav: They invented that I am call girl
Main complainant in case against President Moshe Katsav breaks down after affidavit submitted to attorney general by businessman claiming she provided sex in exchange for money, talks to Ynet, and vehemently denies allegations. 'I understand that Moshe Katsav, or someone on his behalf, decided to stoop to inventing lies and crazy stories,' she says. President's attorneys: New material testimony to character, credibility of complainant
It was made known to Ynet that last Thursday an affidavit was submitted by a businessman to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz claiming that he received sexual services from the main complainant against President Moshe Katsav in exchange for a payment of NIS 600 (USD 142).
The purpose of the declaration: To besmirch the Complainant A.'s credibility and to affect Mazuz's expected decision to indict Katsav, or not, and on what charges.
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Sources in the Justice Department confirmed Tuesday night that an affidavit of this sort was indeed submitted. Some of the president's associates claim that the document explicitly shows that A. works as a call girl, in other words, as a prostitute.
The businessman wrote in his affidavit: "I have known A. for about a year. My friend introduced me to her, and brought her and her relative to … house a little less than a year ago. At the house it was agreed that for NIS 600 cash, I went with A. into the room where we slept together … During the same time period, we picked her up one day from Carlton Hotel where she was staying … they, A. and her relative, told me that they had sex with … for money."
He also writes that in one instance, "A. said to me that she could arrange for the president to grant a pardon because she has relations with him because she worked there."
Disgraceful, unfair treatment
A. and those surrounding her at outraged by the affidavit, and claim that it is merely Katsav's way of gaining media spin. According to them, a family member of A. actually did work as a call girl. The difficult story made A. stray from her habits and interview with Ynet, in which she vehemently attacked Katsav and his associates.
"I find it fitting to respond to this insane story that I understand Moshe Katsav, or someone on his behalf, decided to stoop to inventing lies and ridiculous stories," said A. angrily. According to her, she is currently suffering from anxiety.
"I always knew that the day I'd open my mouth, I'd be exposed to such disgraceful and unfair treatment, but I never imagined it would stoop to such levels," she said.
A. told of the difficulties she and her family have been through, mainly after the affidavit was submitted, since she decided to reveal her story.
"My family is shocked and in pain. They were also in shock after this affidavit was submitted. The ones who have gone through a nightmare aren't the Katsav family, but me and my family. And don't forget that this is about 10 girls, and I am just one of them. In this story, there is a thin line between sick imagination and reality," she said.
Attorney Sharon Nahari, who was recently chosen by the Katsav family to represent him, said to Ynet after the affidavit affair, "The evidence was recently passed on to the attorney general. Because investigations are in full force, I cannot respond to the content, but to our taste, the material significantly damages the character, credibility, and trustworthiness of Complainant A.
"We trust that the attorney general will reach the coalescing conclusions and will decide that there is no place to issue an indictment against the president," Nahari said.
Complainant A.'s lawyer, Attorney Kineret Barashi, said, "Moshe Katsav is using the media in order to disgrace, humiliate, and dismiss the complainant, and afterwards claims that the media has already decided his fate. This is an unreliable suspect who has 12 complaints against him that indicate similar methods and actions. This treatment, in effect, is used to delay the end and to reopen the investigation in light of the fact that the one who submitted the alleged affidavit is not prepared to identify himself even before the attorney general."
Miri Chason contributed to this report
