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Israel's Katsav charged with rape Israel's Katsav charged with rape
(about 1 hour later)
Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav has been formally charged with rape and other sexual offences.Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav has been formally charged with rape and other sexual offences.
The indictment was filed in a Tel Aviv court. No date has yet been set for the actual trial.The indictment was filed in a Tel Aviv court. No date has yet been set for the actual trial.
The charges relate to accusations by a number of female employees who worked for Mr Katsav while he was tourism minister and president.The charges relate to accusations by a number of female employees who worked for Mr Katsav while he was tourism minister and president.
Mr Katsav, who resigned the presidency in 2007, vigorously denies the charges against him.Mr Katsav, who resigned the presidency in 2007, vigorously denies the charges against him.
According to the indictment, he is accused of twice raping an employee while tourism minister between 1996 and 1999 and also sexually molesting her. He called off a plea bargain in 2008 that would have seen him plead guilty to sexual misconduct but avoid more serious charges.
Mr Katsav is also alleged to have sexually molested two other employees in the presidential office. The 63-year-old said he wanted to prove his innocence in court.
The 63-year-old faces a further charge of tampering with a witness after the scandal came to light in 2006. If convicted of rape charges, Mr Katsav can face up to 16 years in jail. He would become Israel's first head of state convicted of sex offences.
In 2008, Mr Katsav rejected a plea bargain that would have seen him plead guilty to sexual misconduct but avoid more serious charges. 'Victim of lynching'
He said he wanted to prove his innocence in court. According to the indictment, he is accused of twice raping an employee while tourism minister between 1996 and 1999, and also of carrying out a forced indecent act on her.
KATSAV TIMELINE July 2000: Elected president of IsraelJanuary 2007: Charged with rape and sexual harassment28 June 2007: Strikes plea bargain to avoid rape charges and a prison term29 June 2007: Resigns as part of plea bargain July 2007: Supreme Court allows challenge to plea bargainFeb 2008: Supreme Court upholds plea bargainApril 2008: Katsav rejects plea bargainMarch 2009: Indicted on two counts of rape and other sexual offence charges
Mr Katsav is also alleged to have sexually harassed two other employees - and in the case of one of the women carried out an indecent act - in the presidential office after he took on the ceremonial role in 2000.
He faces a further charge of tampering with a witness after the scandal came to light in 2006.
Earlier this month, an angry Mr Katsav told a news conference that he was "the victim of a lynching" by the judiciary, after news broke that he would be indicted.
"I have been humiliated, crushed, knocked down, and I suffer. But I am determined to fight to ensure that the truth emerges, all the truth, because I am innocent," he said, flanked by his wife Gila.
The justice ministry responded by accusing him of turning the case into a "media circus".
"The entire speech was riddled with bogus facts and false accusations, not to mention relentless slander against the attorney general and the heads of the law enforcement system," ministry spokesman Moshe Cohen was quoted by the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth as saying.