Last update - 00:00 29/03/2007
Complainant in Ramon case to donate compensation money to charity
By Nir Hasson, Haaretz Correspondent
The woman whose complaint led to the conviction of former justice minister Haim Ramon for assault said on Thursday she would donate her compensation money to a women's rights organization.
"I think the trial's message has been conveyed to women in the most effective way: It is a woman's right to be in control of her body at all times, even if [the person harassing her is] a powerful person with connections," she said.
"I've moved on in my life. I haven't dealt with the verdict at all and as far as I'm concerned that chapter in my life ended when the court ruled I was telling the truth," she added.
Earlier on Thursday, State Prosecution said it was considering an appeal of the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court ruling Thursday that Ramon was not guilty of moral turpitude.
The decision means Ramon can remain in the Knesset and even resume serving as a government minister.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz will host deliberations on the issue soon.
The court upheld Ramon's indecent assault conviction Thursday morning, sentencing him to 120 hours of community service and ordered him to pay the victim NIS 15,000 in compensation.
The Kadima MK was convicted in January for kissing a female soldier against her will.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann said Thursday that he is "pleased that Haim Ramon can resume political activity."
The prosecution had asked for a suspended jail sentence for Ramon, while the defense had asked for the court to overturn the former justice minister's conviction and sentence him to community service.
The three-judge panel of Hayota Kohan, Daniel Beeri and Daniela Sahrizali ruled that "there is no doubt that there are substantial considerations in the defendant's favor. He is a known Israeli public figure."
"For many years, he played many public roles, as a Member of Knesset and as a minister," wrote the judges. "His public service is to his credit, and was taken into consideration when we decided his fate."
"We were not blind to the distress and pain that were the defendant's fate given the loss of his public career," added the judges.
The court ruled that the incident was isolated and "does not demonstrate that we are dealing with a sex offender or someone has a pattern of criminal behavior."
"The act itself is not among the more severe forms of this crime, and it is our impression that it was an unplanned event. We are certain that [Ramon] learned his lesson, and that the defendant will be extra precautious from now on."
Judges: All the defense tactics were aimed at slander
The judges added that they were aware of the heavy price paid by Ramon following the conviction, yet they criticized his statement of regret, maintaining that it did not coincide with the way he acted during the trial. "All the defense tactics were directed against the complainant, slandering her and crushing her dignity," they said.
"And in general, bringing three false testimonies added to the fire. Up until now, we still hear echoes of the defendant shouting at the complainant- 'you're a liar.' How can that utterance hold with remorse and internalization? Nice words will not clean the act."
However, the judges ruled that it was not a crime of moral turpitude. "This isolated and unplanned act by the defendant was carried out after a conversation that was made in poor taste, in an apathetic manner. The act lasted 2-3 seconds, and stopped immediately."
"The conviction was upheld, as opposed to recommendations from the government psychological evaluations services, and the ruling that the crime was not one of moral turpitude, is the correct balance between the different interests, and provides a fitting expression of the various aspects that arose in this case," the judges wrote.
In the conclusion of the ruling, the judges wrote that Ramon's punishment is his conviction, and therefore his penalty must be minimal, so that any future harm caused will be directly proportional to the nature of the crime and its circumstances.
Prosecution, defense pleased with ruling
Following the ruling, Ramon spoke to journalists and said. "I apologize for bothering you; I'm confident we won't meet here again."
The prosecution expressed satisfaction that the conviction was upheld. Rafi Levy, a senior prosecutor in the Tel Aviv district, said "the decision to uphold the conviction sends an explicit and bold message - a woman's right over her body is certain and clear. Any act carried out by force is forbidden and requires a conviction. Even if the complainant chose to hug the defendant, it is still her right not to have her body harmed."
Ramon's attorney Dan Sheinman said the conviction will not stop Ramon's political career. "The ruling that the crime was not one of moral turpitude and the punishment of only community service, creates a situation in which there are no obstacles to [Ramon] continuing as an MK or minister."
Sheinman did not comment on whether Ramon would appeal the court's ruling.