Former President Moshe Katzav continues to face serious charges based on testimony from former female workers. Six months after he rejected a plea bargain in favor of a court trial, investigators say Katzav may face charges of rape.
Katzav's lawyers recently brought new evidence to police. The evidence consisted of a tape, the contents of which have not been made public. After receiving the tape police called the central complainant in the case, a woman known to the public only as “Aleph,” to come in for additional questioning.
Police say Aleph's testimony has been convincing, and report that the new testimony did not change their opinion. The file will soon be returned to state attorneys, who are expected to charge Katzav with rape, sexual harassment and more.
Following a highly-publicized investigation last year, Katzav was offered a plea bargain that would have allowed him to avoid charges of rape by pleading guilty to sexual harassment, indecent assault and harassing a witness. The plea bargain faced several obstacles, as groups including the Movement for Quality Government, the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, the women's rights group Na'amat and more filed petitions against the deal.
However, it was Katzav who ultimately put an end to the deal, saying he preferred to risk a court trial than admit to sexual harassment. Katzav has maintained that he is innocent throughout the investigation.