Katsav denies allegations (archive photo)
Photo: AP
Advocate Avi Lavi
Katsav questioned over new sexual harassment charge
President is questioned for three hours after complainant gives new testimony accusing him of harsher sex offences
Suspended President Moshe Katsav was questioned under warning Thursday, after a new sex offence complaint was filed against him by one of the current complainants in his case, police reported.
The official police announcement did not specify what the offence was. However, police sources said it was rape. Katsav denied the allegations.
The president's questioning lasted three hours and was defined by the police as a "supplementary investigation."
Following the police's announcement, advocate Avi Lavi, one of Katsav's lawyers, told Ynet that "in her (the complainant) first testimony she did not mention all the rape offences. Only after a month she 'remembered' to mention a rape incident that occurred in a Tel Aviv office.
"She was questioned many times after that and was asked directly if she stayed in a hotel alone with the president and she said no, she was asked again if another rape incident took place and again answered negatively," he added.
Lavi added that he was pleased that the woman filed another complaint since this shows that her version is full of holes.
In May, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz is slated to hold a hearing for Katsav following which he will decide whether to indict the suspended president for a series of sexual offenses, including rape.
In the meantime, Katsav's lawyers have been trying to fight media coverage concerning the president, and are considering appealing to the High Court of Justice to have proceedings cancelled, since, according to his lawyers, Katsav has already been tried by the media.
Aviram Zino contributed to this report
