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Ex-Israeli president Katsav receives 7 year rape sentence

Israel Materials 22 March 2011 12:37 (UTC +04:00)
A Tel Aviv court sentenced former Israeli President Moshe Katsav Tuesday to seven years in jail, and two years suspended.The sentencing came nearly three months after it had found him guilty of rape and sexual harassment of female employees
Ex-Israeli president Katsav receives 7 year rape sentence

A Tel Aviv court sentenced former Israeli President Moshe Katsav Tuesday to seven years in jail, and two years suspended.The sentencing came nearly three months after it had found him guilty of rape and sexual harassment of female employees, dpa reported.

Katsav was also ordered 100,000 shekels (28,000 dollars) compensation.

The decision was not unanimous, with one of the three judges dissenting.

A tense-looking Katsav arrived in the court shortly before the session began.

"The accused is a symbol. The fact that he performed these acts while holding a high rank only makes his acts more severe," Court President George Kara said while reading out the arguments behind the sentencing.

The affair broke in July 2006 when a journalist reported that Katsav had complained to the attorney-general that he was being blackmailed by a former employee who was alleging that he had sexually abused her.

The affair then snowballed into one of complaints against Katsav himself, stemming from his time as a government minister and as president.

Over four years later, after accusations from 10 women, and counter-accusations by Katsav, the by-now former president was found guilty of rape and sexual harassment.

Throughout the saga, Katsav insisted he was innocent. He rejected a plea bargain which would have seen him convicted on lessor charges, and at worst handed him a suspended sentence, since he wanted to prove his innocence in court.

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