Israel president offered plea bargain on sex charges
Friday, 29 June 2007
JERUSALEM, June 28 (AFP): Israel's outgoing president Moshe Katsav has accepted a plea bargain for sex offence charges, the attorney general said Thursday, a move that will see him escape jail over rape allegations.
"Under the bargain, President Katsav admitted responsibility for a long series of sex offences, including harassment and indecent acts," Attorney General Menachem Mazuz told a news conference.
Allegations of rape have been dropped from the charge sheet under the deal, which will see Katsav escape with a suspended prison sentence and a hefty fine.
If found guilty of rape, the most serious allegation every levelled against an Israeli leader, he could have faced up to 16 years behind bars.
"Under the bargain, President Katsav admitted responsibility for a long series of sex offences, including harassment and indecent acts," Attorney General Menachem Mazuz told a news conference.
Allegations of rape have been dropped from the charge sheet under the deal, which will see Katsav escape with a suspended prison sentence and a hefty fine.
If found guilty of rape, the most serious allegation every levelled against an Israeli leader, he could have faced up to 16 years behind bars.