Israeli attorney general recommends indicting president in sex scandal

JERUSALEM (AP) _ Israel's attorney general said Tuesday he intends to indict President Moshe Katsav on charges of rape and abuse of power, a stunning accusation against the ceremonial head of state.

Tuesday, January 23rd 2007, 6:21 am

By: News On 6

JERUSALEM (AP) _ Israel's attorney general said Tuesday he intends to indict President Moshe Katsav on charges of rape and abuse of power, a stunning accusation against the ceremonial head of state.

A final decision on the indictment would be made only after Katsav is given the opportunity to present his case. If indicted, Katsav would be Israel's first sitting president to be charged with a crime.

The decision by Attorney General Meni Mazuz came just days after authorities launched a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's involvement in the sale of a government-controlled bank in 2005. Several other high-level politicians have also been implicated in other scandals.

Katsav has denied the charges, stemming from complaints made by four women who worked for him during his tenure as president and, before that, as a Cabinet minister. Katsav has said he is the victim of a conspiracy by political enemies.

Sharon Nahari, a lawyer for the Katsav family, said the president was unhappy with the news, but held out hope that Mazuz would reconsider when Katsav presented his case.

``We hope things will turn out differently,'' he told The Associated Press.

The president enjoys immunity while in office and could be tried only after his resignation or the end of his term, which is later this year. His lawyers had indicated he would resign if indicted, and several politicians called on him to resign Tuesday.

Mazuz's office said it had collected enough evidence to support an indictment against Katsav on charges of rape, harassment, sexual relations involving the abuse of power, obstruction of justice and illegally accepting gifts.

The accusations first surfaced over the summer when one of Katsav's female employees accused him of forcing her to have sex in his office. Soon after, other women leveled similar accusations against him, painting the picture of a politician who had harassed his employees and abused his power throughout his career.

Kineret Barashi, an attorney for one of the Katsav's accusers, welcomed the indictment.

``The news that there is finally an indictment against the president of the country is very satisfying _ to know that the justice system does its work and doesn't hold back, even when the president of the country is involved.'' she said.

Mazuz declined to recommend that Katsav be charged with wire tapping and selling pardons.

``I think that in the end, things will become clear, and I don't think it will be what was announced today,'' David Mena, a friend of Katsav's, told Israel's Channel 2. ``I'm sure the indictment will be softened.''

Former Cabinet Minister Limor Livnat of the Likud, Katsav's old party, urged him to step down.

``The president must resign immediately,'' she told Army Radio. ``There is no room for maneuvers or backflips.''

Katsav's predecessor, Ezer Weizman, resigned in 2000, just before the end of his term, after the attorney general ruled that he had improperly accepted more than $300,000 in gifts from a French millionaire.

Weizman was never indicted. Other presidents had been viewed as relatively free of corruption and were expected to remain above the political fray after they took office.

Katsav's troubles erupted amid other political scandals that have darkened the Israeli government's reputation.

Olmert's ally, Haim Ramon, was forced to step down as justice minister and is now on trial after a soldier accused him of forcibly kissing her.