Katsav with family members, on Wednesday
Photo: Reuters
Katsav to receive first visit in prison
Just two days after starting his prison term, jailed former president to meet family members for half-an-hour visit in courtyard
Only two days after beginning to serve his jail term in Maasiyahu Prison, former president Moshe Katsav will be paid his first visit by family members.
Katsav, who was convicted of two counts of rape, sexual harassment and obstruction of justice, will be allowed to meet with close relatives in the prison courtyard for half an hour.
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Upon arrival in Maasiyahu prison, the Katsav family members will have to undergo a security check, during which they will be searched, as well as their belongings. Afterwards, they will receive a special tag and will be escorted, along with the other visitors, to the prison courtyard.
Inmates held in open cellblocks are entitled to visitations in the prison's public space, and are not seperated from their visitors with a divide.
On Wednesday morning, after reporting to jail, the former president met with the prison social worker, the facility's doctor and the officer in charge of his cellblock. Prison authorities have ruled that he is not a danger to himself and that there is no need to place him on suicide watch.
Katsav's attorneys are expected to draft a request in the upcoming days to hold another hearing on his appeal, this time with an expanded panel of High Court judges.
Meanwhile, Katsav's relatives are already planning to petition to President Shimon Peres for a pardon in the next few weeks. "No doubt that his chances of getting a pardon would have been better had he admitted to his acts," said a source privy to the matter.
"However, granting a pardon is a matter of compassion and mercy – and in the case of the former president, it needs to be based on other foundations, in light of the special circumstances," the source said.
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