Isreali President to be charged with rape

[BgMc31]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070123/...l_president_dc

By Jeffrey Heller
27 minutes ago



JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prosecutors intend to charge President Moshe Katsav with rape and other crimes against female employees, the Justice Ministry said on Tuesday, in what would be an unprecedented indictment against an Israeli head of state.

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Katsav has denied wrongdoing. His post is largely ceremonial and the scandal is unlikely to have a direct impact on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert -- who has himself been hurt politically by a string of investigations into suspected corruption, which he has denied.

The case against Katsav, months in the making, appeared certain to strengthen the feeling among many Israelis that misconduct is rampant at the top.

"The attorney-general, with the agreement of the state attorney, reached the conclusion that there is sufficient prima facie evidence to indict the president," the Justice Ministry said in a statement.

The scandal erupted last year when several former staffers filed complaints with police, accusing Katsav of sex crimes.

The ministry said an indictment would include the charge of raping one of the four women who accused Katsav of sexual assault.

In the statement, Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz gave Katsav a last chance to present legal arguments before a final draft of the indictment, proposing a hearing at which he promised to hear the president's response with an "open heart and a willing soul."

The ministry said a date for the hearing would be set soon.

In response, Katsav's attorney David Liba'i told reporters "we believe the attorney general will change his position" once they present their case at the hearing.

"The president is convinced it will become clear to all he is the victim of false accusations intended to push him out of his job, and he will fight to prove his innocence," Liba'i said.

Asked whether Katsav intended to resign, Liba'i replied that Katsav has said he would suspend himself from duty if he were indicted.

Katsav would announce his plans at a news conference planned for Wednesday, Liba'i added.

While serving as president, Katsav can be put on trial only if he resigns or is impeached by parliament.

Katsav has been president since 2000 and is due to stand down in July.

[RA]

I wonder if its true. I know plenty of women who scream rape that are full of shit like the Duke case.

[Snrf]

I wonder if its true. I know plenty of women who scream rape that are full of shit like the Duke case.

This is pretty big though, if you were the prosecutor going after the president you'd want to be pretty damn sure your witness was a reliable one..

[zodiac666]

if he's guilty i hope he gets the punishment he deserves, and if not i hope whoever accused him gets the punishment she deserves.

[singern]

if he's guilty i hope he gets the punishment he deserves, and if not i hope whoever accused him gets the punishment she deserves.

It is big news over here, although the president in israel is only a figurehead with no political power, much like the queen of England. It is still an embarrassment to the nation. And yes he should be punished to the full extent of the law if he is guilty,

[J.S.N.]

It is big news over here, although the president in israel is only a figurehead with no political power, much like the queen of England. ,

or the president of iran.

[singern]

or the president of iran.

Not at all, the Israeli president is appointed, and serves as a kind of national embassador. I never really understood why they call him president. The title is way to misleading.

It is the Prime minister who holds all the cards....

[J.S.N.]

no i mean a figurehead with basically no power.

[singern]

no i mean a figurehead with basically no power.

OK I understand, but as much as I believe the Ayatollah holds the cards of power, I do think Ahmanajad does actually control the government to a degree.

[abstrack]

Worthless without pics., LOL

[abstrack]

Rape isnt funny unless you're raping a clown.