Israel board hears rapist ex-president's early parole request

 An Israeli parole committee heard on Sunday the request of former president Moshe Katzav to have his seven-year rape sentence reduced by a third, an official said.

A justice ministry spokeswoman said the three-person committee, comprised of a retired judge and two representatives of the public, heard Katzav and his lawyers argue for his early release, which would take place at the end of April if approved.

A representative of the justice ministry also appeared at the 12-hour hearing and expressed the ministry's opposition to Katsav's early release.

The spokeswoman said Katsav had not proved "he was worthy of an early release," primarily due to his not accepting the court's verdict, responsiblity for his crimes, or undergoing rehabilitation.

The panel was to convene again on April 3 to reach a decision on Katzav's request.

Katzav, 70, was sentenced in 2011 to seven years for two counts of rape as well as sexual harassment and obstruction of justice, in a scandal that rocked Israel.

The former president, forced to step down due to the allegations, consistently denied the charges and claimed to be the target of a media plot, insisting any contact he had with his female staff while tourism minister and president was consensual.
Source: AFP