Last update - 00:00 06/09/2006
Katsav questioned for third time on sexual assault claims
By Jonathan Lis and Roni Singer-Heruti
The special police team investigating the sexual assault allegations against Moshe Katsav on Wednesday questioned the president at his official residence in Jerusalem for the third time.
Two investigators arrived at the residence in Jerusalem early Wednesday for questioning that was expected to last most of the day. Katsav underwent two lengthy rounds of questioning last month.
The officers were to present Katsav with some of the new material they have gathered so far and which was not presented to him during the first two interrogations held two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, a second police complaint of sexual harassment has been filed against Katsav by a woman who worked under the president when he was a government minister several years ago.
The woman's complaint accuses the president of making unwanted sexual advances toward her and attempting to touch her inappropriately when they worked together.
Police will examine the woman's testimony in the coming days to determine whether it would be covered by the statute of limitations.
Two months ago, another woman who worked under Katsav filed a complaint accusing the president of sexual harassment and rape.
Police have been placing great importance on tracking down additional women interested in coming forward and filing similar complaints against Katsav.
Despite the fact that several women who worked under Katsav claimed anonymously in the media that they were sexually harassed by him, none have been willing to file charges.
Police officers involved in the case believe that like other similar cases of sexual assault and harassment, once one woman comes forward to file a complaint - even if the alleged crime is covered by the statute of limitations - others will be encouraged to follow suit.
The woman who accused Katsav of raping and sexually harassing her, known as A., testified Tuesday for a second time. She repeated the testimony she gave two months ago, in which she accused the president of forcing her to have sex with him. A. repeated her accusation that the president used physical and verbal pressure to force her into sexual relations with him.
Officers presented A. with Katsav's response to her accusations, in which he strenuously denied any sexual relations with the former employee.
Police have not raised the possibility of confronting Kastav with his accusers, even though she has already said she would be willing to do so. The president is also reportedly willing to be involved in such a confrontation.
There also has been reports that the president is willing to undergo a lie-detector test.