Ex-president Katsav up for new parole hearing
Serving 7-year sentence for rape, disgraced politician seeks early release for good behavior despite never expressing remorse
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Former president Moshe Katsav, who is serving a seven-year jail sentence for rape, will have a new parole hearing in December.
The Israel Prisons Service Parole Board has accepted his request for a new hearing for an early release for good behavior, Hebrew-language media reported Monday.
Katsav, 70, was convicted on December 30, 2010, of two counts of rape, among other related charges. He began serving his sentence in December 2011, and is slated for release in December 2018.
In August, his second request of the year was rejected, but the board ruled he would be eligible to file a new request for commutation after he completes six months of in-prison rehabilitation.
The board acknowledged that it had observed “seeds” of repentance in Katsav.
His previous request for an early release were rejected, in part because of his refusal to express remorse for the attacks. Katsav has repeatedly claimed to be innocent.
“The board took note that the prisoner sees himself as a victim… and is busy solely with himself, his needs, his loss, and the price that he and his family have paid,” the board wrote in April, rejecting his first request.
“Even in light of questions from the board, the prisoner didn’t show regret and/or empathy for the victims of the crime, but once again noted the heavy price he has paid and is paying.”
After that, it was reported that Katsav had been placed on a suicide watch and given psychological counseling.
Early parole is very common in the Israeli prison system, with a majority of prisoners managing to obtain the standard one-third reduction to their sentence for good behavior.
The Prisons Service has said Katsav’s behavior as a prisoner has been above reproach.
But his previous parole requests have triggered a firestorm of criticism, including from lawmakers and at least one of Katsav’s victims.
If he went free, “it would be unprecedented in Israel, and would send a very negative message, both about women and about sex offenders,” Odelia Karmon, who was assaulted by Katsav in the early 1990s, told Army Radio in April.
If this next parole request is denied , Katsav will still be able to appeal for a pardon by President Reuven Rivlin. The two are former Likud colleagues who served in the Knesset together for years before Katsav won the presidency.
The Times of Israel Community.