Israel reviews release request of ex-president jailed on rape charges

An Israeli court ordered a parole committee to re-examine Moshe Katsav's request for early release.

The former president is currently in jail on rape and other sexual offense charges.

At Katsav's lawyer's request, the Old District Court outside Tel Aviv ordered another committee hearing of Katsav's request.

The decision was taken following the Prisoner Rehabilitation Authority's announcement last Thursday, stating its launch of a new policy concerning "especially complex cases," so as to review Katsav's case according to the new policy.

The decision angered the State Attorney's Office, which accused the Prisoner Rehabilitation Authority of biased preferential consideration concerning Katsav.

An official with the office informed the Hebrew Walla news site that the procedure was "unprecedented."

The State Attorney's Office in its statement said that their "position regarding the prisoner's early release remains fixed."

A parole board rejected Katsav's appeal to reduce his seven-year rape sentence by a third on April 6.

The board said Katsav never espoused responsibility for his crimes nor agreed to undergo rehabilitation.

"He never expressed remorse nor empathy towards his victims," said the panel.

Katsav's lawyers appealed the rejection on May 19.

Katsav served as Israel's eighth president between 2000 and 2007.

In 2011, he was convicted of two counts of rape of female subordinates, sexually harassing other females, and obstruction of justice.

Katsav was sentenced to seven years in prison, which he is currently serving in a penal institution in central Israel. Endit