Katsav Interrogated Over Sexual Harassment
Israeli police questioned President Moshe Katsav yesterday over allegations he coerced former female employees into having sex with him. Sexual harassment is not the sole accusation brought against the president. Katsav is said to have issued pardons in exchange for money, and the most probable outcome of the scandal is voluntary resignation of president.
The story of allegedly sexual harassment of Moshe Katsav, 61, happened 15 years ago, when the president was in charge of the transport ministry of the country. But details of his hectic past have surfaced only this summer, and setting the action in motion could be blamed on Katsav himself.
One of his former employees in the transport ministry threatened to unveil data proving that Katsav had allegedly received money from relatives of inmates, whose names he added to the president’s pardon. Moreover, the employee accused him of sexual harassment up to forcing into unwanted sexual activities.
In an effort to do away with the accusations, Katsav confided to Menahem Mazur, the legal advisor of the government. He didn’t go to law against the blackmailer though. But the officials failed to blanket the scandal, fueling it instead - a few more former employees voiced similar accusations after a while.
In Israel, the official investigation was launched July 12, i.e. on the same day when Israel started its military campaign in Lebanon. Early this week, investigators withdrew documents, files and even PCs containing the correspondence of president with employees, and Katsav endured interrogation of many hours Wednesday. The face-to-face meeting of president with the complainants will happen in the nearest days. So far, only two women, whose names haven’t been disclosed, officially brought charges against the president.
Meanwhile, the first of the claimants has passed the lie detector test, which confirmed she is telling the truth.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Aug. 24, 2006
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