Indicted: The State vs. Moshe Katsav
State Prosecutor's Office files amended indictment against former President Moshe Katsav, citing charges of indecent acts, sexual harassment, badgering a witness. Question of moral turpitude remains open; Katsav unlikely to see inside of jail
The State Prosecutor's Office filed an amended indictment against former President Moshe Katsav Thursday, with the Jerusalem Magistrates' Court.
The indictment is based on the plea bargain reached between Katsav's attorneys and the State in late June 2007 – which was endorsed by the High Court on Tuesday.
The Jerusalem Magistrates' Court is expected to hear the case with a special, three-judge panel presiding.
The amended indictment cites, among others, charges of performing indecent acts while using coercive measures, sexual harassment and badgering a witness.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz decided to proceed with filing the indictment, despite requests by The Movement for Quality Government in Israel and The Israel Women's Network to delay it, allowing them to file a motion for a special, enlarged High Court panel to here petitions against the plea bargain.
The amended indictment charges Katsav with relatively minor sexual offenses – a far cry from the original case, which carried charges of sexual assault and harassment.
Should the Jerusalem Magistrates' Court grant the plea, Katsav will not serve any jail time.
The court must further decide on the question of whether or not Kstsav should also be charged with moral turpitude. The State Prosecutor's Office has announced it will ask the court to include the charge, which will prevent the former president form taking an active part in public life; Katsav's attorneys, however, said that any such charge will cause them to renege on the plea.
The various women's organizations have expressed their disappointment of the High Court's ruling and have reportedly begun preparing for a series of protests.
The first protest rally was staged in Tel Aviv Wednesday night, as hundreds of people marched from Rabin Square to the State Prosecutor's Tel Aviv bureau.
During the rally, protestors waved signs reading "Sexual Offenses – a social phenomenon" and "Moral turpitude now – no to Katsav deal".
Yahel Ash Kurlander, spokeswoman for the Woman to Woman organization, said Wednesday that the decision to grant Katsav's plea bargain has "shaken Israeli women's sense of security".
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