Prosecutors have begun to draft charges against Israeli President Moshe Katsav after police said they had evidence he committed rape, Israeli media reported today.
Army Radio reported that the state attorney-general, Menachem Mazuz, is likely to decide within two weeks to press charges against Mr Katsav, who is under growing pressure to resign over the scandal involving female employees.
The report, published also by the Haaretznewspaper, said Jerusalem prosecutors were drafting a charge sheet after police said on Sunday they had evidence Mr Katsav had "carried out sex crimes of rape, sexual molestation by force and without consent".
Mr Katsav (60), whose ceremonial position is widely seen as a unifying force in a country of deep political divides, has denied any wrongdoing and said he is the victim of a "public lynching without trial".
His lawyer said the president would resign his post if an indictment is brought against him.
Mr Katsav is the highest ranking Israeli politician ever suspected of sex crimes. He cold face up to 16 years in prison if he was tried and found guilty of rape.
Israeli politicians have urged him to resign or suspend himself, which led to Mr Katsav staying away from a ceremonial opening of parliament's winter session yesterday.