Livni to Peres: Reject Katsav's request for pardon

Livni's recommendation squares with opinion of state's pardons unit that Katsav should serve full 7 year prison term for rape.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
Media surrounds Moshe Katsav_311 (photo credit: Reuters)
Media surrounds Moshe Katsav_311
(photo credit: Reuters)
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni recommended to President Shimon Peres on Tuesday that he reject the request for a pardon made by former president Moshe Katsav’s family on his behalf.
Livni’s recommendation squares with the opinion of the state’s pardons unit that Katsav should serve his full seven-year prison term for rape.
The justice minister based her decision on “the severity of his deeds, the exploitation of his power and the public trust placed in him.”
Also, while Livni said she acknowledged the suffering of his family – which the family highlighted in its request – “it is no less important to weigh the suffering of the women whose dignity he trampled and whose bodies and souls he desecrated.”
Livni noted that Katsav “expressed no regret” for his actions, holding stubbornly to the story that he was innocent, and he did not even submit the pardon request, which was submitted by his family.
Next, she said that when the controversy broke six years ago, she had been justice minister at the time, and had quickly called for Katsav formally “to step down and not to stop at just taking a leave of absence.”