Complainant in Katsav case: I went through web of sex offenses
Scandal of President Moshe Katsav gets more involved Thursday, when additional details of A.'s testimony clarified. MK Shelly Yacimovich meets with her, says 'I heard detailed account for few hours of alleged web of sex offenses from sexual harassment to rape'
The complainant in the investigation against President Moshe Katsav, A, met Thursday with MK Shelly Yacimovich, and told her of events she had allegedly been through at the President's Residence.
"I sat and listened for a few hours to a detailed account of an alleged web of sex offenses from sexual harassment to rape," Yacimovich told Ynet. "It is a broad spectrum – starting with sexual harassment and including forceful rape. Based on my impression and my rich experience with many rape victims – her testimony is very credible."
According to Yacimovich, from A's testimony emerges a suspicion of a web of grave criminal offenses. "It is important for me to emphasize that within the context of the memo that was published about hugs and kisses, about what is permissible and what is prohibited, that here we are in the black domain of criminal offense, clear and severe, whose sentence is imprisonment. This is a suspicion of unequivocal rape in addition to harassment," she said.
'There is an attempt to depict Katsav as a victim'
MK Yacimovich came to the defense of A: "The girl is under intense attack by lawyers, publicists, and relatives of Katsav who are presenting her in a negative light. She is powerless, a young girl against everyone else, who didn't intend to report a rape at all. She feels as though she is contending with forces much stronger than she is – forces spreading vicious rumors and crazy claims.
"While President Katsav is surrounded by a well-oiled system of public relations, she is armed with another young woman with good will. That isn't a force. There is an attempt to depict Katsav as a victim."
President Katsav was interrogated Thursday for the second time. The investigation focused on the claims of the complainant A on forcible sexual relations. Katsav vehemently denied the claims. The police published an official announcement after the interrogation in which it was written, "A number of additional interrogations are planned and will be coordinated between the investigation team and the President of the State, Moshe Katsav."
The President's Residence published an announcement, which said, "The police interrogation concluded at 3:00 p.m. During the interrogation, family members awaited the president. Afterward, he joined his wife, children, and grandchildren."
A few days ago, the police confiscated computers and documents from the President's Residence in order to check if the president corresponded with the complainant. However, the President's Residence reported, "Contrary to reports, the president does not have a personal computer and he doesn't correspond by email with anyone." With regard to suspicion that Katsav pardoned prisoners after allowing his associates access to amnesty files, the President's Residence reported that "not even one amnesty file was taken."
