Parole board to rule on ex-president Katsav’s early release

A parole board was set to announce Sunday whether it was granting the early release of former president Moshe Katsav, who is in his fifth year of a seven-year jail sentence for rape.

Katsav has served more than two-thirds of his prison term at Ma’asiyahu Prison, making him eligible for parole, but has previously been denied early release several times for failing to acknowledge his acts or express any remorse.

Since Katsav has completed more than the minimum prison time needed before appealing for parole, a board decision in his favor could see him released as early as Sunday evening.

The ex-president is thought to have a better chance this time of securing his release, with prison officials saying that he has apparently begun to show indications of internalizing the implications of his actions, a departure from his previous insistence on his absolute innocence and adamant refusal to participate in rehabilitation programs.

Appearing before the parole board last week, Katsav admitted that he acted “inappropriately” towards women who have made claims against him, Israel Radio reported Saturday night. He reportedly broke down in tears saying that he needed to change his behavior.

The state prosecution said that despite the first glimmers of regret, after years of denying any wrongdoing, Katsav’s statements do not amount to an admission of guilt for the two counts of rape for which he was convicted and will therefore oppose the early release.

If the request is granted, the state prosecution will consider requesting a delay in order to mount an appeal, according to Israel Radio.

Speaking on Channel 2’s Meet The Press Saturday night, Zion Amir, Katsav’s lawyer, said he was “confident” that the parole board would accept the request.

“There are rumors from members of the board [that he will be released],” she said. “But to say that we are certain would be irresponsible.”

The parole board was set to publish its decision last Sunday but delayed the announcement by a week without offering an explanation.

All discussions at the hearing were being kept under wraps until the announcement, according to a statement sent out by the board. However, Israel Radio reported last week the discussion lasted more than five hours and the state prosecution asked that any early release be delayed several months.

Late Sunday, Channel 2 quoted from a letter Katsav is said to have sent to close friends, acknowledging pain caused to his victims. “I’m sure the women who filed complaints against me were hurt, and did go through what they said they went through,” Katsav reportedly wrote. “I have made mistakes and I must learn the lessons. I now recognize that I hurt them, and that I did not see the signs that they were hurt. I erred.

The former president, 71, was convicted in 2010, of two counts of rape, among other related charges. He began serving his sentence in Ma’asiyahu Prison in December 2011 and is slated for release in December 2018.

Katsav has consistently denied committing any offenses and has portrayed himself as a victim. When his previous attempts to secure his release were shot down, it was reported at the time that Katsav had then 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 Israel Prisons Service has said Katsav’s behavior as a prisoner has been above reproach.

If the upcoming parole request is denied, Katsav’s last resort for shortening his sentence will be to appeal for clemency from President Reuven Rivlin. The two are former Likud colleagues who served together for many years in the Knesset before Katsav won the presidency.