Supreme Court Turns Down Katsav's Request for Retrial of Rape Conviction
Justice Hendel rules court already dismissed ex-president's claim of 'miscarriage of justice' during appeal.
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected imprisoned former President Moshe Katsav's request for a retrial of his rape conviction.
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Justice Neil Hendel stated that Katsav's claim to have been the victim of a "miscarriage of justice" had already been rejected by the Supreme Court during his unsuccessful appeal of the verdict.
"One gets the impression that this a repeat performance of plainly appeals-level claims, all of which were considered at great length," Hendel continued.
"The testimony of [a former secretary to Katsav in the Tourism Ministry] regarding the act of rape committed upon her by [Katsav] was found to be credible, while at the same time it was determined that [Katsav's] testimony about the event was not credible. The fact that the precise time of the rape was not nailed down does not of itself raise a reasonable doubt, and it certainly does not rise to the level of a miscarriage of justice that would justify a retrial."
Katsav, 68, is incarcerated at Maasiyahu Prison in Ramle, where he began a seven-year sentence in December 2011. He served as president of Israel from 2000-2007, before resigning under mounting legal pressure that began when a former secretary in the President's Residence accused him of rape. He was ultimately accused of rape or sexual harassment by as many as 10 former female employees.