Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., October 29, 2007 Cheshvan 17, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:49 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

Complainant "A." (L) and former President Moshe Katsav (R) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 08:16 29/10/2007 Mazuz: Katsav may have had consensual affair with accuser By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent There is sufficient evidence indicating the possibility of a consensual affair between former president Moshe Katsav and the woman he has been accused of raping, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz told the High Court of Justice on Sunday. In a statement made ahead of a hearing on a plea bargain struck between the attorney general and the former president, Mazuz wrote that allegations made by the complainant, "A.," were undermined by contradictions in her story, creating a reasonable doubt that the former president was innocenct and should not be charged with rape. "There was evidence that she was obsessively jealous of another employee at the President's office who was close to Katsav," Mazuz wrote. "There was evidence that she sent Katsav a love letter and gave him presents." Advertisement The hearing on Tuesday will deal with six petitions requesting that the plea bargain be canceled. The announcement was made in response to a legal opinion handed last week by Dr. Tsvia Zeligman, an attorney who specializes in defending rape victims, who claimed the contradictions in the woman's testimony strengthened her credibility as it adheres to known behavioral patterns of woman who have been sexually abused. "This assumption undermines the basis of criminal law," the prosecution wrote in response. "If the contradictions in her testimony do not hurt her credibility, and if contradictions with other testimonies do not harm it as evidence, then eventually filing a sex offense complaint alone together with an expert legal opinion will bring about an automatic conviction, without having to undergo the tiring process of weighing the evidence "an absurd and unacceptable outcome." Related articles: State Prosecutor: Katsav plea deal hangs on court testimony State: Evidence in Katsav rape charges was 'badly eroded' Secret talks being held on plea bargain in Katsav rape case Bookmark to del.icio.us 6 years on Officials say Syria's suspected reactor was under construction in 2001. Nyet to aliyah The minister was wrong: Nativ's tactics simply aren't suited to today's Jewish village.   1.   Evidence? 01:46  |  Sherlock Holmes 29/10/07   2.   Why not? 01:49  |  Joseph 29/10/07   3.   Spoil sports 01:50  |  Ben Azai 29/10/07   4.   wolves 03:20  |  ron 29/10/07   5.   It is time to put away the hangman`s noose 04:42  |  * BEN JABO 29/10/07   6.   the scarest logic i`ve heard in a long time 05:45  |  C Fried 29/10/07   7.   And in the meantime 06:06  |  Joseph 29/10/07   8.   polical report 06:32  |  john 29/10/07   9.   "HELL hath no fury like a woman scorned" 07:05  |  PETER S.M. 29/10/07   10.   Contradictions ENHANCE Her Credibility? 07:22  |  Ben Israel 29/10/07   11.   MAZUZ,RESIGN! KEEPING SHARON,OLMERT IN OFFICE,FORCING KAZAV OUT?? 07:28  |  VOICE)))))))) 29/10/07   12.   Raped once would be enough 07:49  |  Nora 29/10/07   13.   Endless shame 08:03  |  Esther 29/10/07   14.   And what about the other Disgusting actions 08:56  |  Sandy 29/10/07   15.   Turn of the screw...... 10:02  |  Esther 29/10/07   16.   Is Katsav a very rich man....???? 10:07  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/10/07

Today Online Gideon Levy: Peace summit will expose Israel's true colors Responses: 11 Israel allows money to flow into Gaza Strip despite sanctions Responses: 8 Ze'ev Segal: The assassin of a PM deserves no leniency Send response Itamar Rabinovitch: Preparing for life in the Middle East after Bush Responses: 2 Ukraine to ask Israel: Recognize 1930s famine as genocide Responses: 50 Rosner's Domain * Is Tikkun Olam a substitute for Israel? * New Guest: The Zionism of Winston Churchill * WTR: Only 35% of Americans believe Iran can be stopped * Is Haaretz really better than the New York Times? More Headlines 10:41 Report: PM to tell media about health problem 10:40 Two soldiers hurt in clashes with militants in West Bank and Gaza 09:45 Israel allows money to flow into Gaza Strip despite sanctions 10:22 Livni: China can play key role in defusing Iran nuclear dispute 10:37 Systematic mass murder of Jews detailed in huge Nazi archive 10:12 Tamir, pressed to end teacher strike, to meet with union chief 07:30 Ukraine to ask Israel: Recognize 1930s famine as state genocide 08:48 17-year-old boy found stabbed to death after Herzliya brawl 04:30 Steep rise in child sexual assault complaints among Haredis 05:06 Pollution slashes almost a third of Israel's drinking water in 2005 Previous Editions Select Day 28 oct 26 oct 25 oct 24 oct 23 oct 22 oct 21 oct 19 oct 18 oct 17 oct 16 oct 15 oct

Special Offers Advertisement learn Hebrew online with israel's best teachers. Sign up for a trial lesson today Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here! Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved