Moshe Katsav with his wife, Gila
Photo: Haim Zach
Katsav to be indicted on second rape count
Attorney General's Office says president faces new rape indictment following fresh rape complaints by former worker
The Attorney General's Office said on Sunday that suspended President Moshe Katsav would be indicted on a second rape count after a former employee filed a new complaint of sexual harassment against him with the police.
The complaint came in the midst of Katsav's appeal to the attorney general to reverse his decision to indict him on rape charges.
Police questioned Katsav last week after one of his former employees, during his tenure as tourism minister, known as A., submitted fresh evidence that he had raped her on more than one count.
Investigation
Lilach Shoval
President questioned for three hours after complainant gives new testimony accusing him of harsher sex offences
Katsav's lawyers said the new complaint marked the fourth time that A. changed her testimony.
Aides to the president expressed their surprise and anger over the attorney general's decision.
"The police questioned the president for less than an hour, and it took the State Prosecutor's Office less than a day to make such a serious decision. These data testify to the seriousness of the matter," an associate said.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said two months ago that he had decided to indict Katsav on charges of rape and wire-tapping.
The filing of the indictment was delayed to give Katsav's lawyers more time to appeal Mazuz's decision.
"This is a complainant that was most interrogated among all the complainants. In her first testimony she mentioned no rape offense," Avi Lavi, one of Katsav's lawyers, said.
