President Moshe Katsav
Photo: Gil Yohanan
President Katsav investigation – take 6
Several weeks before drafting his indictment police investigators will once again arrive at presidential residence, this time to crosscheck new testimonies and suspicion that justice was obstructed
Wednesday will be the sixth time that police investigators make their way to the presidential residence to question President Moshe Katsav. On the menu this time around: Fresh testimonies from additional women who have stepped forward to complain and a suspicion of obstruction of justice somewhere along the investigation.
Police have already transferred the primary case-file built against the president to the state prosecution office with an unequivocal recommendation: The president is to be put on trial and charged with the gravest of all sexual offences – rape.
The judicial and political systems both estimate that State Prosecutor Eran Shendar will prepare the initial draft for the indictment, in coordination with the Attorney General Menachem Mazuz. It still remains unclear if the indictment will correspond with the police recommendation.
Even if Shendar and Mazuz draw up the indictment draft, the road to court may still be long: The president will continue to enjoy legal immunity throughout the remainder of his term and only a special majority in the Knesset House Committee and assembly can oust him.
In the meantime a parliamentary process that would allow the Knesset to declare the president 'temporarily suspended' has encountered substantial difficulties.
Efrat Weiss contributed to this report
