Prosecutors: Katsav hunted down his victims

According to protocols from first court session, prosecutor says former president "didn't hesitate to use physical force to get what he wanted."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
katsav trial first day 248.88 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimksi)
katsav trial first day 248.88
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimksi)
Prosecutors in the Moshe Katsav sexual misconduct case have accused the former president of a behavioral pattern of "temptation and hunting." According to protocols of last week's first court session released on Monday, prosecutor Ronit Amiel said Katsav chose with "careful attention" the employees he wanted to molest by using his position as their employer. She said she planned to present testimony proving the former president's conduct. "He would compliment his employees and become interested in them, and he tried to document the women saying that they wanted to keep in contact with him, thereby providing himself with a kind of alibi in case of a future trial," she said. Amiel went on to say that the "the accused tried to get the complainants' consent for his actions, and he didn't hesitate to use physical force to get what he wanted." Katsav's lawyer Avigdor Feldman said that "the prosecution's claims "prove that it feels weak," and said there was an attempt to "demonize" his client. Feldman blasted prosecutors' plans to call a psychiatrist as a witness, in a bid to support their claim that Katsav is a serial sex offender. "The complainants will need to explain why police interrogators believed they were lying, and why their testimonies contradict clear objective findings," he added. The charges against Katsav include two counts of rape; one count of committing an indecent act, using force; one count of committing an indecent act; two counts of sexual harassment; one count of harassing a witness; and one count of obstructing justice. The indictment covers alleged sexual misconduct on Katsav's part against three women - A., who worked for him in the Tourism Ministry, and H. and L.Y., who worked for him in Beit Hanassi. He is accused of raping A. twice. The next session is set for Tuesday, during which the persecutors will call a complainant who doesn't appear in the indictment in order to try and shed some light on Katsav's alleged pattern of behavior.