Israeli president Katsav signs plea bargain on sex charges (1st Lead)

Jun 28, 2007, 9:59 GMT

Jerusalem - Outgoing Israeli President Moshe Katsav signed a plea bargain with state prosecutors Thursday under which he will not be indicted for rape he is accused of committing, but instead will face a other charges, including committing an indecent act by force.

Under the terms of the deal the president will not serve time in prison or do community service, but will receive a suspended sentence and will also have to pay compensation, Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz told reporters in Jerusalem.

'The president will plead guilty to three charges, and will receive a suspended sentence and be ordered to pay compensation to the complainants,' he said.

He said most of the complaints originally levelled against Katsav had passed their statute of limitations, or else lacked sufficient evidence.

Mazuz's statement Thursday was delayed while one of the rape complainants against Katasv petitioned the Supreme Court to postpone the announcement, arguing she was legally entitled to present a formal response first. The petition failed.

Mazuz, in an unprecedented decision against an Israeli president, announced in late January that he had decided in principal on an indictment against Katsav, saying police had gathered 'enough prime facie evidence' to press charges over the allegations, which included rape and sexually harassing three women who worked in the president's residence.

Katsav, who has steadfastly protested his innocence, took leave of absence from his largely-ceremonial post in January. He was replaced by Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, who will remain as acting President until Katsav's newly-elected successor, Shimon Peres, is sworn in on July 15.