'Katsav may face prison sentence'
Expert jurist says former President Moshe Katsav now vulnerable to new charges against him, warns State Prosecution now ensnared in its own mistakes with high-profile case as Katsav heads back to courtroom
Israel's judicial system has known its share of dramatics, but few of its elders can recall anything similar to what transpired at the Jerusalem Magistrates' Court on Tuesday afternoon.
After strenuous long months of legal mêlée which culminated in one of the most controversial plea bargains in Israeli history, the public's rage over the lenient deal struck with former President Moshe Katsav was answered by the most unlikely of players - Katsav's own defense team, which reneged the bargain.
So what happens now? "Attorney General Menachem Mazuz has said himself in the past that if Katsav goes back on the deal, the State will pursue the original indictment," Attorney Yehoshua Resnick told Ynet after the shocking announcement.
Resnick, who prosecuted the case of former Shas chairman Aryeh Dderi, warned that the State Prosecution had 'entrapped' itself with the case.
"Now," said Resnick, "they will have to sit down and decide whether they will follow through with the original indictment or use the narrower one in accordance with the plea bargain. The larger indictment is
without a doubt very problematic – this is what the Prosecution itself said at the High Court of Justice."
It is important to remember, Resnick said, that Katsav was exposing himself to charges not originally included in the indictment.
If convicted, said Resnick, Katsav is also risking a possible prison term.
