Israel’s president to be indicted for rape, other sex charges
Israeli President Moshe Katsav will suspend
himself from office after the announcement that he will be indicted on charges
of rape and other sex crimes, parliamentary officials have said.
Israeli President Moshe Katsav will suspend himself
from office after the announcement that he will be indicted on charges of rape and other sex crimes, parliamentary
officials have said.
The opposition Meretz party has already launched a petition to impeach the embattled president who, if convicted of rape, faces a maximum 16 years in prison.
Attorney General Menahem Mazuz intends to indict the 61-year-old on a slew of charges, including raping a female employee when he was tourism minister, sexual harassment, abuse of power, breach of trust and accepting bribes.
Katsav faces the prospect of becoming Israel’s second consecutive president forced out by scandal.
His predecessor, the late Ezer Weizman, was forced to resign in 2000 after revelations he received around 450,000 dollars as “gifts” from French millionaire Edouard Saroussi in the 1980s, when Weizman was an MP and minister.
These are the folks our government looks to for leadership and guidance in the Middle East. He’s stopped short of resigning because that would take away his immunity from some levels of prosecution.
We noted Katsav being under investigation last November.
The opposition Meretz party has already launched a petition to impeach the embattled president who, if convicted of rape, faces a maximum 16 years in prison.
Attorney General Menahem Mazuz intends to indict the 61-year-old on a slew of charges, including raping a female employee when he was tourism minister, sexual harassment, abuse of power, breach of trust and accepting bribes.
Katsav faces the prospect of becoming Israel’s second consecutive president forced out by scandal.
His predecessor, the late Ezer Weizman, was forced to resign in 2000 after revelations he received around 450,000 dollars as “gifts” from French millionaire Edouard Saroussi in the 1980s, when Weizman was an MP and minister.
These are the folks our government looks to for leadership and guidance in the Middle East. He’s stopped short of resigning because that would take away his immunity from some levels of prosecution.
We noted Katsav being under investigation last November.
Posted: Wed - January 24, 2007 at 08:46 AM