Region | Palestinian Territories
Katsav resigns over sex scandal
President Moshe Katsav resigned on Friday, a day after pleading guilty to committing sexual crimes against women employees.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:33 June 28, 2007
- Image Credit: AP
- Israeli President Moshe Katsav has pleaded guilty to commiting sexual offenses against women employees.
Occupied Jerusalem: President Moshe Katsav resigned on Friday, a day after pleading guilty to committing sexual crimes against women employees.
Katsav sent his letter of resignation to the Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, Israel radio reported.
When he pleaded guilty to sex crimes on Thursday, Katsav signed a plea bargain that will keep him out of jail, Israel's attorney-general said.
As part of the plea bargain, severe charges that included two counts of rape, which could have meant an up to 16-year jail sentence, have been scrapped.
Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz said that "shame will accompany [Katsav] forever". "From Israel's 'First Citizen', he turns into a criminal convicted of sexual offences," Mazuz told a news conference.
An indictment is to be filed against Katsav after his resignation takes effect on Sunday, or 48 hours after submission.
More from Palestinian Territories
More from Region
News Editor's choice
-
Ukraine leaders fight over Russian language
Violence erupts in Ukraine parliament over a bill to allow use of Russian language in courts, hospitals
-
CBSE: 100% success in many UAE schools
6,000 students from 53 schools meet grade expectations in examinations
-
'I can’t believe he is not going to come back'
Seventeen-year-old boy went missing in Dubai during a visit from Pakistan
