Katsav accuser says fears for life after new evidence released
Katsav lawyer: New testimony could 'influence the investigation'; witness to remain anonymous.
By Roni Singer-HerutiThe former President's Residence employee who has accused President Moshe Katsav of raping her said Tuesday that she fears her life may be in danger following the release of new evidence that undermines her testimiony.
A., the complainant, made the statement after Katsav's lawyer Sharon Nahari gave Attorney General Menachem Mazuz new evidence from a witness Nahari claims will challenge A.'s credibility, and might "influence the investigation."
The complainant told Haaretz on Tuesday that "until the person Moshe Katsav stops seeing me as a body, he won't come down from his humiliating stories and lies. Now I am in a situation where I fear for my life."
The new testimony was delivered to Mazuz with a declaration of anonymity by the witness, who claims to know A. from "dubious" circumstances.
Attorney Nahari, who was recently added to Katsav's legal counsel, demanded Mazuz interrogate A. over the new evidence. However, the witness will not be interrogated, since his/her identity is to be kept confidential.
A., commenting on the new testimony said, "I don't know who stands behind this declaration, I have no idea what it's about. I only know that I fear for my life since I am aware that organized crime lords are involved, and they are not on my side. I have a clear feeling that until he [Katsav] and his people see me dead, they won't calm down."
A. also said that she canceled a planned trip abroad after a message was allegedly warning that "the last thing that I should do is go abroad, because it will harm me. I assume that these things [were said] because of the desperate situation Katsav is in."
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You and I don't know who A is, that's appropriate. Katsav, though, does know who his accuser is, and that's proper in law. However, that her testimony is being contradicted by someone who remains anonymous even in the legal system is the real tragedy. That an invisible person is given the same weight as a real one violates fairness. Yes, we've been inundated with too much about Katsav, but that's not the problem. The problem is that the powerful don't have to follow the same laws as the rest of us.
I agree with #1. This is the first we've heard of Mr Katsav in many weeks. After all the brouhaha about an imminent indictment, nothing. His continued presence in the President's Residence makes the office redundant at best. As for the top secret, confidential, anonymous witness, anyone with experience of online dating knows better than to trust in such a source. Is this a criminal case or reality TV?
The public has been inundated with endless leaks about all the supposedly horrible things the President has done, and yet he has not yet been indicted. What is going on? Here we again have "shocking charges" from a person who is not even identified. This is shoddy journalism, to keep attacking someone in the media without any solid evidence. Either indict him or leave him alone!