Former Israeli president Katsav indicted for rape

Former Israeli president Moshe Katsav was indicted today for rape and other sexual offences against three women who used to work…

Former Israeli president Moshe Katsav was indicted today for rape and other sexual offences against three women who used to work for him. He denies the charges.

The indictment filed at Tel Aviv District Court accuses Katsav of twice raping and, on another occasion, molesting a staff member while he was tourism minister in 1996-1999.

After he became Israel's ceremonial head of state in 2000, Katsav sexually molested two other employees, according to the indictment, which also alleged that he obstructed justice and tampered with a witness after the scandal became public in 2006.

Katsav (63), resigned in 2007 and, a year later, rejected a plea bargain under which he could have avoided rape charges and a possible jail term in exchange for admitting lesser sexual offences.