Former President Moshe Katsav ,who is currently serving a seven year sentence for rape, will be allowed out of prison for his son's wedding on May 20, the Israel Prison Service announced Monday. The leave will last for seven hours in exchange for a financial guarantee.
His leave was made possible after a mental health committee determined that he did not present a danger to the public. Moreover, the police did not oppose the planned furlough.
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Some two weeks ago Katsav, who had refused to don his orange prison jumpsuit during visits, agreed to wear it for a meeting with his daughter.
Despite the IPS' promise that the former president would not receive any special privileges at the Maasiyahu Prison, he is being held in a bloc that is usually reserved for religious prisoners.
- On Sunday the High Court rejected Katsav's motion for another hearing on his case. Justice Ester Hayut said the convicted rapist's attorney, Yoram Sheftel, "had left no stone unturned and raised no less than four fundamental issues and various minor issues which he thinks warrant an additional hearing."
"I did not find any reason to grant the motion based on any of the claims and therefore the motion is denied," she said.