Israel's Supreme Court rules Former President Moshe Katsav to go to prison for rape

[Scurrilous]

Katsav was sentenced to seven years in prison in March, after a Tel Aviv District Court ruled he was guilty of two counts of rape.

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"Israel's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Former President Moshe Katsav will go to prison for two counts of rape and other sexual offenses, rejecting his appeal of the rape conviction and seven-year sentence he was handed by the Tel Aviv District Court.

On Thursday morning at 9 A.M. Supreme Court justices Miriam Naor, Edna Arbel and Salim Joubran entered the courtroom and read a summary of their decision on Katsav's appeal of his rape conviction and other sex offenses, unanimously deciding not to intervene in the Tel Aviv District Court's rape conviction.

In March, Katsav was sentenced to seven years in prison after he was found guilty of two counts of rape after complaints had surfaced of sexual offenses against various subordinates during Katsav’s terms as tourism minister and president.

Katsav decided to appeal his rape conviction and claimed that the sexual relations he had with the complainant were consensual."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-s-supreme-court-rules-former-president-moshe-katsav-to-go-to-prison-for-rape-1.394752

[Scurrilous]

1. Female MKs to Peres: Don't pardon Katsav

A group of female lawmakers signs petition against giving convicted rapist a presidential pardon. Orli Levy, Anastassia Michaeli refuse to support initiative

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4149389,00.html

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"A group of female Knesset members signed a petition Wednesday calling on President Shimon Peres not to pardon Moshe Katsav, this just several days after the Supreme Court upheld the rape convictions against the former president and ruled that he will begin serving his seven-year jail sentence in several weeks."

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"In the petition, sent to Peres, the MKs stated that "in recent days, following the (court's) rejection of the appeal submitted by former president Moshe Katsav against his rape convictions, Katsav has been conducting a media campaign, which seems to be laying the groundwork for a public atmosphere favorable to pardoning him and exempting him from the punishment he was given.

"We are saddened and ashamed that public figures from different public sectors are also taking part in this campaign."

"Being female Knesset Members, who, among other things, represent women in Israel, we express our vigorous objection to this shameful campaign. Pardoning a president who took advantage of his authority and committed rape will be a mark of disgrace on the entire Israeli society and its attitude towards women."

They added that "the District Court's ruling and its upholding by the Supreme Court are important landmarks on the road to ending this painful chapter in the history of abuse and discrimination against women. If, god forbid, Katsav will be pardoned, the Supreme Court's ruling will become a dead letter."

[King_David]

5. .

:thumbsup:

[azurnoir]

2. As well he should n/t

[Scurrilous]

3. Legal sources: Unlikely that former Israel President Katsav will be pardoned

Former president Katsav's 7-year conviction for rape, other sexual offenses upheld by Supreme Court last week; Katsav to Israeli press: I curse the day I was elected president.

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"A senior legal source said on Wednesday that the chances that former president Moshe Katsav will secure a legal pardon for his seven-year rape conviction are minimal."

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"Legal sources emphasized President Shimon Peres’s policy of not reducing sentences of sex offenders who have been convicted of serious crimes, such as rape, and not reducing sentences of public figures who have been convicted of serious crimes.

As such, Peres does not ease punishment of convicted public figures before they have served a significant portion of their sentence, have admitted their guilt, and have agreed to go through rehabilitation.

In an interview with the newspaper Yediot Aharonot, Katsav said Wednesday, “I have not committed suicide, and I do not intend to commit suicide. I promise my family that I will be strong, but even iron that is hit, as I have been over the past five years, bends. I curse the day I was elected president of the State of Israel."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/legal-sources-unlikely-that-former-israel-president-katsav-will-be-pardoned-1.395938

[Scurrilous]

4. Katsav says he’s a ‘wreck,’ proclaims innocence

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"Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav told an Israeli newspaper that he is a "wreck" but will not commit suicide.

Days after his rape conviction was upheld by the Israeli Supreme Court, Katsav said in interview with Yediot Achronot published Wednesday, "I promise my family that I will be strong, but even iron hit as many times as I have been hit in the past five years eventually bends."

He added, "I curse the day I was elected president of the State of Israel.”

Katsav, 65, also apologized to his victims as he continued to proclaim his innocence.

“I apologize to the women who complained against me if I hurt them. I will continue fighting for my innocence," he said in the interview. "My truth will come to light, even if it is after my death.”

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/11/16/3090318/katsav-syas-he-is-wreck-proclaims-innocence