Katsav asks court for Passover Seder at home
Disgraced former president seeking 48-hour furlough to spend first night of Passover with his family.
Former president Moshe Katsav appealed Monday to Lod District Court for permission for a 48-hour furlough to celebrate the Passover holiday with his family.
Katsav is arguing that he had been told he did not have to abide by the rule that prisoners are only allowed one break from prison every 60 days, and had previously taken leave during the Purim holiday last month.
Katsav is serving a seven-year jail sentence for rape and other sexual offenses.
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In the petition, Katsav's lawyer said that there was a chance that her client could request a vacation under "special circumstances". She said Katzav hadn't celebrated Passover and Rosh Hashanah his family since his incarceration 28 months ago.
The petition also argued that Katsav has already served a quarter of his sentence, and had been included in the program to allow furlough. Since his incarceration Katsav has taken four leaves of absence, during which he "met all the conditions for furlough impeccably."
This isn't the first time Katsav has requested special furlough. In October 2013, the former presidnet asked for 24-hour leave for his grandson's bar mitzvah, but received only six hours on the grounds that his previous leave had taken place just one month before.
