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Police back Katsav rape charges | Police back Katsav rape charges |
(20 minutes later) | |
Israeli police believe there is enough evidence to charge President Moshe Katsav with rape and wire-tapping, a statement has said. | |
The recommendation came at a meeting between Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and police who have been investigating claims against Mr Katsav for weeks. | |
Mr Mazuz will have the final say on whether Mr Katsav should face charges. | Mr Mazuz will have the final say on whether Mr Katsav should face charges. |
Mr Katsav denies claims that he forced two female employees to have sex with him, and all other allegations. | Mr Katsav denies claims that he forced two female employees to have sex with him, and all other allegations. |
He has said he is the victim of a "public lynching without trial or investigation". | |
The police statement said: "There is sufficient evidence indicating that in several cases... the president carried out acts of rape, forced sexual acts, sexual acts without consent and sexual harassment." | |
"There is sufficient evidence indicating violation of the law banning wire-tapping by the president," it added. | "There is sufficient evidence indicating violation of the law banning wire-tapping by the president," it added. |
Residence searched | |
The statement said police also found basis for charges of fraud and malfeasance in office concerning presidential pardons granted by the president - one of the few powers of his office. | The statement said police also found basis for charges of fraud and malfeasance in office concerning presidential pardons granted by the president - one of the few powers of his office. |
Police searched the president's home in August after allegations of sexual harassment emerged, and have questioned him repeatedly and seized documents during the investigation. | |
The 61-year-old father-of-five has rejected calls that he quit the largely ceremonial post that he has held since 2000. | |
If charged, he would be immune from prosecution. | |
However, he could be impeached by parliament if it felt he had acted inappropriately. | |
Mr Katsav is a veteran member of the right-wing Likud party, serving as transport minister in the late 1980s and in 1996 as minister of tourism and deputy prime minister. | Mr Katsav is a veteran member of the right-wing Likud party, serving as transport minister in the late 1980s and in 1996 as minister of tourism and deputy prime minister. |