The Jerusalem District Court sentenced Avraham Katz (40), an ultra-Orthodox man from the Meah Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem, to five and a half years in prison and 10 months probation Monday, after finding him guilty of three counts of sodomy and indecent assault against minors.
Katz was tried after the separatist anti-Zionist Eda Haredit sect – in an uncharacteristic move –
turned him into authorities.
The indictment against Katz details three cases, which took place in mid 2006, December of 2007 and May of 2008. According to all three accounts, he would approach teenaged boys, lure them to accompany him and once they were alone he would touch them in various ways for his own sexual gratification, sodomizing at least one of his victims as well.
Katz arriving in court (Photo: Guy Asyag)
Katz pleaded not guilty on all counts, telling the court that the allegations were libelous and no more than rumors spread by his estranged wife, who he refused to give a divorce.
Nevertheless, the honorable Jacob Zaban, Raphael Carmel and Gila Steinitz said that the offenses he was convicted of were "heinous and portrayed against minors, who lacked experience and understanding (of his actions).
"Katz's behavior indicated a perverse perception of reality and of a deviation from acceptable norms." The fact that he demonstrated no remorse, they added, Illustrate that he must be kept away from society.
Notwithstanding the verdict, the judges did not order Katz to pay any damages, since he has been deemed destitute.
Attorney Ariel Herman, for Katz, said he was going to appeal the sentence, which he called "abnormally harsh."
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