Ex-Israeli President Sentenced to Prison for Rape

[Poll_Blind]

Source: New York Times

JERUSALEM — An Israeli court sentenced Moshe Katsav, the country’s former president, to seven years in prison for rape on Tuesday. The sentencing is the latest stage in a sordid drama that Israel’s leaders point to as proof of the principle of equality before the law, but one that has also seen the prestige of Israel’s highest office brought to a historic low.

--snip--

Mr. Katsav, 65, was convicted in December of two counts of forcible rape, after a four-year spectacle that began with accusations of sexual offenses against Mr. Katsav while he was still the head of state. He was convicted of raping an employee — identified only by her first initial, A. — on two occasions while he was minister of tourism in 1998. The court also convicted him of sexually abusing and harassing another complainant and of harassing a third while he was president — a distinguished, if mostly ceremonial, position that Mr. Katsav held from 2000 until 2007.

--snip--

The case has riveted Israel for years. Mr. Katsav resigned from the presidency in disgrace in 2007, two weeks before the end of his seven-year term, to a chorus of public criticism over a deal he had reached with state prosecutors.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/world/middleeast/23katsav.html

---

Not much else to add. As shocking as it is puzzling, honestly.

PB

[Lint Head]

1. So, sending a president to prison is possible

when obvious crimes are committed. Just not here. We let criminal leaders and presidents torture kill and subvert while receiving awards.

[Ticonderoga]

2. Netenyahoo was also spotted

running from the scene with his soiled skivvies in his hand.

[L0oniX]

3. If he had raped a Palestinian this would not be happening.

[here_is_to_hope]

4. And if this President was from any other Country....

this post would have more than 6 recs...

[RedCloud]

5. Let us take heart from this and get our war criminals!

[Auntie Bush]

6. If they can do it...we can go after Bush/Cheney et al.