Israel’s ex-president, in jail for rape, wants no parole

Jerusalem, May 19:

Israel’s former president Moshe Katsav, in jail for rape, on Thursday appealed to a court not to approve his request for parole.

His lawyer Zion Amir filed a 22-page appeal after he said on Sunday that Katsav has chosen not to appeal the decision because he feels “broken” and “exhausted”, Xinhua news agency reported.

At his lawyer’s request, the Lod district court outside Tel Aviv extended the Sunday deadline until Thursday.

On April 6, a parole board rejected Katsav’s appeal to have his seven-year rape sentence reduced by a third.

The board said he never assumed responsibility for his crimes or agree to undergo rehabilitation.

“He never expressed remorse or empathy for his victims,” the panel said.

Katsav, Israel’s eighth president, has served approximately two-thirds of his sentence.

Now 70, Katsav served as president between 2000 and 2007. In 2011, he was convicted of two counts of rape of women subordinates, as well as sexual harassment of others, and obstruction of justice.

He is now serving the seven-year sentence in a prison in central Israel. (IANS)