Tel Aviv: Israeli former president Moshe Katsav was convicted of two counts of rape on Thursday, capping a four-year scandal that shocked the Jewish state and leaves him facing at least eight years in prison.
As a Tel Aviv court handed down the verdict, which also convicted Katsav on charges of sexual harassment, indecent acts and obstruction of justice, the visibly distraught 65-year-old muttered "No, no."
The ruling comes after a trial that lasted a year and a half and included harrowing accusations, and depictions of Katsav as a sexual predator who routinely harassed his female staff.
The former head of state was accused of twice raping a victim dubbed "Aleph" in his term as tourism minister, and sexually assaulting and harassing two other women during his presidency.
Katsav proclaimed his innocence throughout the investigation into the rape and harassment charges, and even declined a plea agreement that would have seen him admit the lesser accusations, but drop the rape charges and fine him instead of sending him to jail.
He said his accusers had attempted to blackmail him and charged he was the victim of a media witchhunt while pledging to clear his name in a full court trial.
"I am the victim of a lynching," he said in March 2009. "I have been humiliated, crushed, knocked down, and I suffer."
But he was forced to resign his post as president, handing the office to former rival Shimon Peres.
On Thursday, presiding Judge George Kara read the verdict before a packed courtroom and accused Katsav of having "engaged in a campaign of vilification against the plaintiffs."
And he told the former president his decision to nullify the plea deal "was a grave mistake."
"We believe the plaintiff (Aleph), because her testimony is supported by elements of evidence, and she told the truth," the judge said.
