Attorney General Menachem Mazuz
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Moshe Katsav
Photo: AP
High Court defers Katsav plea deal
High Court decides to postpone indictment hearing in former President Moshe Katsav's sex abuse case till Monday afternoon; move aimed at allowing State to reply to petitions lodged by various women's groups in protest of plea bargain entered by the prosecution
The High Court issued an injunction on Sunday deferring State plans to indict former President Moshe Katsav in a Jerusalem court later this afternoon in the frame of a plea bargain on sex charges.
Justice Salim Jubran ruled that Katsav's indictment should not be filed before the High Court has ruled on petitions calling for the cancellation of the plea bargain signed between the former president and the State Prosecution.
The prosecution agreed last week to drop rape charges against Katsav in return for his pleading guilty to lesser sexual offenses committed against female employees during his time as tourism minister. Under the deal Katsav will not be jailed but will pay compensation to the complainants.
Justice Jubran ruled it was inappropriate that the State pushed for a plea bargain deal before the High Court had ruled on a handful of petitions by civil rights and women's groups who wanted Katsav to stand trial.
He added that the indictment will be frozen till Monday or later.
The Justice Ministry announced that the State would not file an indictment against Katsav until the High Court has ruled on the petitions.
Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz's decision to drop rape charges against Katsav for lack of evidence angered many.
State Prosecutor Eran Shendar said over the weekend that the plea bargain deal would be cancelled if Katsav did not plead guilty to lesser sexual assault offenses.
Katsav submitted his resignation soon after the announcement of the plea bargain last week. His resignation went into effect on Sunday.
Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik will serve as acting president until President elect Shimon Peres is sworn in later this month.
