Israel Matzav

Israel's First Rapist gets 7 years in jail

Convicted rapist Moshe Katzav, who was once President of Israel, was sentenced on Tuesday to seven years in jail, two years probation and a NIS 125,000 fine (NIS 3.554 = $1).

Katsav broke down in tears upon hearing the judges decision, saying " they are wrong. They made a serious mistake. it will be proven. The lie won today, you will all see."

He added, "the women know that they lied. I was not given a chance to defend myself...you kept interrupting my testimony.

Judge George Karra read out the argument for sentencing , saying that "The victims of the accused were subject to sexual harassment and were in distressful situations that caused them to be affraid... The repeated nature of the offenses over a long period of time shows a behavior pattern that is a reason for harsh punishment."

The judge also blamed Katsav's behavior for the delay in the indictment.

"Katsav's high rank can't be taken to his credit, on the contrary it makes his acts more severe," Karra said. "The higher the rank, the greater the dissapointment," he added

"It is Katsav's high rank that makes this case unique, not the crimes themselves," the judge said.

The decision brought to an end a two-year trial and a saga that has fascinated the Israeli public for more than five years.

The affair started with claims by Katsav that he was being blackmailed by an employee, and continued through a long investigation into suspicions that he had committed sexual offenses, revelations that a string of women had claimed he raped them, a plea bargain that would have acquitted him from all major charges but which he quickly canceled, two harsh press conferences at which he hurled blanket accusations at the press, and finally a long, seemingly endless trial that culminated in a decisive conviction in December.

Since that day, on which the former president was convicted of two counts of rape, sexual harassment, committing an indecent act while using force, witness harassment and obstruction of justice, the question on everyone’s mind was whether he would serve time in prison and, if so, for how long. A February 22 pre-sentence hearing, in which prosecutors and Katsav’s lawyers presented arguments, failed to reveal much information because the state did not request a specific number of years in prison.

Both the former president and his lawyers have said that what he went through in the years since the affair came to light was punishment enough for a lifetime. During the pre-sentencing hearing, his lawyers referred to him as “a broken vessel” and “a zombie.”

Throughout the trial, he maintained his innocence and continued to accuse his victims of fabricating stories.

When he gets out of jail, Katzav can keep looking for the 'real rapists.'

The amazing thing is that his wife continues to stand by him.

Katzav, who was Israel's first 'observant President' (one of his first acts was to install a synagogue in the President's mansion) is a walking desecration of God's name.

Labels: Moshe Katzav, rape, sexual harassment

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:13 PM