Attorney: President never harassed anyone

VIDEO - A special team of police investigators arrived at the official residence of President Moshe Katsav in Jerusalem at about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday and questioned him under caution for more than seven and-a-half hours as part of the allegation of sexual harassment and suspicions of granting amnesties in exchange for payments. Katsav will apparently be interrogated further, and the investigation team is expected to arrive at Attorney General Menachem Mazuz’s office at the beginning of next week to update him and State Prosecutor Eran Shendar on developments in the case. Sources close to the president said that at around 2 p.m. the interrogation was adjourned for half an hour and was later resumed. The interrogation began with questions regarding the extortion claims, after which the president was told that he was being investigated under caution and was questioned on the sexual harassment allegation. Katsav's wife Gila was not questioned. Investigators leave President’s Residence (Photo: Gil Yochanan) Katsav’s attorney Zion Amir said following the interrogation “the president cooperated in full and the interrogation was conducted in a professional manner and in a pleasant atmosphere. The president is committed to cooperating with the investigation and to make himself available to investigators at all times, even at the expense of personal obligations and planned family vacations.” “The president has never acted illegally he did not sexually harass any woman or man,” Attorney Amir said. Amir said the suspicions that Katsav granted amnesties in exchange for payments are nothing more than “an empty balloon.” “The president is in good spirits, even though this is a painful affair for him,” the attorney added. Knesset Committee Chairwoman Knesset Member Ruhama Avraham called on Katsav to save the honor of the presidential institution and take a holiday. "The president, like every person, has a right to prove their innocence. On the other hand the honor of the presidency should be guarded. During this time… he should go on holiday," she said. Last Monday the International Investigation Unit of the National Police Squad sent investigators to the president's home in Jerusalem and took away documents and computers, as part of an ongoing investigation. The affair began when a former employee at the President's Office claimed that he had sexually harassed her, while Katsav denied the allegations and claimed that the employee attempted to blackmail him. According to Katsav, the woman demanded that he give her money and threatened that if he refuses she would claim the president pardons prisoners in exchange for money, which is deposited in bank accounts outside Israel. Aviram Zino contributed to the report

Attorney: President never harassed anyone

(VIDEO) Police investigators conclude interrogation of Katsav on sexual harassment allegation, extortion claim; president’s attorney: Atmosphere was pleasant. Police to update attorney general, state prosecutor on case next week