Katsav questioned over new sexual harassment charge

[Scurrilous]

President is questioned for three hours after complainant gives new testimony accusing him of harsher sex offences

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3382956,00.html

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"Suspended President Moshe Katsav was questioned under warning Thursday, after a new sex offence complaint was filed against him by one of the current complainants in his case, police reported.

The official police announcement did not specify what the offence was. However, police sources said it was rape. Katsav denied the allegations.

The president's questioning lasted three hours and was defined by the police as a "supplementary investigation."

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"In May, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz is slated to hold a hearing for Katsav following which he will decide whether to indict the suspended president for a series of sexual offenses, including rape.

In the meantime, Katsav's lawyers have been trying to fight media coverage concerning the president, and are considering appealing to the High Court of Justice to have proceedings cancelled, since, according to his lawyers, Katsav has already been tried by the media."




Indicted former minister may return to politics

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3382765,00.html

Court ruling that former minister's conviction on indecent conduct charges does not amount to moral turpitude paves way for Ramon to return to political life

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"A court ruling stating that former Justice Minister Haim Ramon's indecent conduct conviction did not amount to a crime of moral turpitude, has paved his way back to political life.

The court upheld Ramon's conviction Thursday on indecent conduct charges and sentenced him to 120 hours of community service.

Ramon himself refused to comment on the court's ruling, but his associates said he would decide on his political future shortly after Pesach.

Meanwhile, others in the political system were quick to voice hope he would soon return to the Knesset.

"I hope and believe that he (Ramon) returns to political activity as soon as possible, because the political system as a whole, and Kadima is particular, need such a man," said Knesset Member Yoel Hasson."



Rights group asks court to suspend Hirchson over corruption probe

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"The Movement for Quality Government has petitioned the High Court of Justice to suspend Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson over allegations that he may have embezzled funds to finance political activity in the Likud party, Israel Radio reported on Monday.

Police investigators say that large sums of money, totaling NIS 1 million, were deposited into Hirchson's bank account several times in the beginning of the decade.

Police also investigated monetary transfers to and from the account of Ofer Hirchson, the finance minister's son, and found that they match transactions made to and from his father's account.

During his questioning last week, Hirchson gave initial explanations regarding the source of the funds, and investigators have spent the last few days looking into these explanations. Hirchson will have to answer further questions regarding the monetary transactions during his second round of questioning, which has yet to be scheduled.

According to associates of Hirchson, the finance minister will make a decision regarding his political future only after the investigation against him has ended."

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