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Last update - 11:13 21/07/2008 Katsav lashes back at rejection of his request for luxury car, lavish office By Zvi Zrahiya, TheMarker Tags: Mazuz, Israel, Katsav  Former president Moshe Katsav has filed a complaint with the State Comptroller against Accountant General Shuki Oren, after Oren rejected Katsav's request for a new luxury Audi A6 sedan and a lavish office in the Azrieli Towers in central Tel Aviv. Katsav left office a year ago under a cloud of sexual misconduct allegations. A trial is now pending, after Katsav accepted, then rejected a plea bargain, under which rape charges were to have be dropped but the former president would have admitted to sexual harassment and indecent acts and receive a suspended jail sentence, paying compensation to two of his victims. Katsav, speaking though his attorneys, argued that Oren had set a trap for him by proposing that his car be upgraded and an office rented for him. After Katsav submitted a request that a black Audi be ordered for him and that the state rent an office for his use, Oren announced that Katsav would continue to use the Volvo he has been using, and that he would be given an office in one of the facilities of the government housing authority in Tel Aviv. As an alternative, the treasury suggested that Katsav rent a less expensive office. Advertisement The State Comptroller's Office confirmed that the complaint had been received, saying that the comptroller was studying it. The Finance Ministry stated that the accountant general would act according to the instructions of the attorney general and would cooperate with the state comptroller. The benefits to which Katsav is entitled as a former president, the allegations notwithstanding, were first disclosed by TheMarker in October 2006. In response to a query by Oren, Attorney General Meni Mazuz has ruled that under existing regulations, Katsav is entitled to all benefits accorded former presidents, so long as he has not been convicted of a crime defined as one of moral turpitude. Following Mazuz' response, Oren announced that "the government housing authority will act to locate an office for Katsav within the framework of existing housing or through a short-term rental according to the accepted standards and financial terms which meet appropriate tests from various standpoints." Oren has instructed the President's Residence, which oversees conditions for former presidents, that wherever possible, actions pertaining to Katsav be made on a short-term basis, so that they may be halted on short notice if need be. Earlier this year, the Knesset Finance Committee sought to freeze the former president's entitlement to an office and aides, and ruled last year that any president convicted of offenses that carry moral turpitude would lose all perks, except the monthly pension. In addition, convicted former presidents would continue to ride in a state-funded armored car with a driver and bodyguards, due to security concerns. At the time of the decision, lawmakers expected the court to approve a plea bargain. Since the plea deal was withdrawn, Knesset Ethics Committee Chair Haim Oron has asked the Finance Committee to freeze all of Katsav's perks. Related articles: Katsav case in better shape now, says senior judicial source Katsav to Treasury: Give me a luxury car, lavish Tel Aviv office Bookmark to del.icio.us   Baptism by fire Bradley Burston offers 10 Mideast traps for Barack Obama to avoid. A second life 'Exodus' passenger makes aliyah six decades after being turned away.   1.   So if we don`t like someone ... 11:20  |  Edith 21/07/08   2.   to # 1 there`s a reason he pled guilty to lesser charges, edith 11:54  |  eric 21/07/08   3.   When will the Hirchson and Katsav trials start? 11:55  |  redmike 21/07/08   4.   #1 - Katsav was charged by 5 women 12:08  |  redmike 21/07/08   5.   spinning out of orbit 12:42  |  sptz 21/07/08   6.   The Left gave Kunter much more 13:07  |  Binyamin Dissen 21/07/08   7.   Why in the hell should the citizens of Israel support 13:11  |  aaa 21/07/08   8.   No rewards for rape. 13:20  |  petra 21/07/08   9.   #1 So, you want to be one he `courted`? 13:22  |  petra 21/07/08   10.   As much as I think he`s guilty, he `aint yet 13:45  |  David Teich 21/07/08   11.   You can`t embarrass this guy 14:20  |  dyinglikeflies 21/07/08   12.   Breaking news: Katsav lessens his demands 14:21  |  Clickfool 21/07/08   13.   #1 Belgium 14:22  |  Niki 21/07/08   14.   Katzav to trial 15:10  |  Fair 21/07/08   15.   Olmert shouldn`t receive a car and office either 16:02  |  Mirqa 21/07/08   16.   Shameless man... 16:30  |  Ulf 21/07/08   17.   10, correction - he might be guilty but it hasn`t been proved yet 17:08  |  redmike 21/07/08   18.   Of course Katsav is guilty, Redmike # 17 19:39  |  Clickfool 21/07/08   19.   Katsav has a NERVE! an Arrogant man..... 21:07  |  Dagma 21/07/08   20.   Katsav - and now Olmert 21:27  |  Dolly 21/07/08   21.   17: No, redmike, it`s a legal term 22:43  |  David Teich 21/07/08   22.   18: CF proofs he`s ignorant about more than Israel 22:46  |  David Teich 21/07/08   23.   I LIKE THAT: "ON SHORT TERM " 09:38  |  Robert 23/07/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: Ten Mideast traps for Obama to avoid Responses: 41 Israel keen to crack down on East Jerusalem Responses: 21 'No excuses,' says visiting Obama about bulldozer terrorist Responses: 19 Hezbollah chief to UN: Ready to swap more prisoners with Israel Responses: 13 Akiva Eldar: Divide J'lem, for the sake of the Jewish state Responses: 1 Rosner's Domain Is Jimmy Carter 'tone-deaf' to Jewish sensibilities? (WTR) Will Lebanon pay the price for the prisoner swap deal? What will Obama look for in Jerusalem (and Ramallah)? Why does Israel keep agreeing to prisoner swaps? More Headlines 07:28 Israel keen to crack down on East Jerusalem 08:27 ANALYSIS / Timing of second Jerusalem bulldozer attack was amazing 09:04 'No excuses,' says visiting Obama about bulldozer terrorist 05:51 ANALYSIS / Obama visiting Israel to impress Jewish voters, not Israelis 09:20 Hezbollah chief to UN: Ready to swap more prisoners with Israel 09:23 UN: Violence in Gaza dropping, peace developments on rise 04:55 Iran hackers target Israeli Web site over message by Jewish group 09:18 Senior IDF officer seriously hurt after jeep flips over in south 01:27 Estelle Getty, peppery oldster in TV's 'Golden Girls,' dies at 84 07:42 Livni: When I'm PM, I want a unity coalition with Labor and Likud 02:55 Talansky to Haaretz: Olmert most astute politician I've met 01:48 Olmert government to hold first meeting on global jihad Wednesday 05:31 Man ordered to pay wife NIS 55,000 for refusing to divorce her 06:50 New Clean Air legislation sees heavy fines, jail for polluters Previous Editions Select Day 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul

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