Disgraced former Israeli President Moshe Katsav has officially submitted a new request for clemency to President Reuven Rivlin, the President's Office confirmed Sunday.
"As is the case with all requests for clemency, it will be passed on to the legal department of the President's Office for review," a statement from the President's Office said.
The confirmation follows reports that President Rivlin is seriously considering releasing Katsav early due to concerns over his rapidly declining health. A clemency will mean convicted rapist Katsav will be freed from prison on compassionate grounds, but would not annul his actual conviction.
Katsav has requested his seven-year sentence be reduced by a third on the grounds of good behavior. Critics, however, note that he has never expressed any remorse for his actions, and should therefore serve his entire term.
Last week, Israel's Channel 1 reported that Katsav's wife Gilah had met with President Rivlin twice in the past several months and, contrary to reports Rivlin is considering a release, that she believes the likelihood of her husband being freed early is extremely minimal.