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Israel ex-President Moshe Katsav found guilty of rape
Former President of Israel Moshe Katsav has been found guilty of rape by a court in Tel Aviv.
He had faced two allegations of rape by an employee when he was tourism minister in the 1990s. He was also accused of later sexual offences.
The judges said they believed the evidence of Woman A, whose testimony had led to both charges of rape.
Moshe Katsav resigned from the post of ceremonial head of state in 2007 and was indicted in March 2009.
Before Mr Katsav arrived for the verdict a crowd built up outside the district court, including many women's rights activists.
The former president, in office for seven years from 2000, had denied the charges.
He had rejected a plea bargain in 2008 that would have seen him plead guilty to sexual misconduct but avoid more serious charges.
According to the indictment, the rape charges dated back to April 1998 when Woman A alleged he had first raped her at the Tourism Ministry office and later at a hotel in Jerusalem.
The further charges related to claims of sexual harassment of two women in 2003 and 2005 during his presidency.
BBC News - Israel ex-President Moshe Katsav found guilty of rape
Israel ex-President Moshe Katsav found guilty of rape
Former President of Israel Moshe Katsav has been found guilty of rape by a court in Tel Aviv.
He had faced two allegations of rape by an employee when he was tourism minister in the 1990s. He was also accused of later sexual offences.
The judges said they believed the evidence of Woman A, whose testimony had led to both charges of rape.
Moshe Katsav resigned from the post of ceremonial head of state in 2007 and was indicted in March 2009.
Before Mr Katsav arrived for the verdict a crowd built up outside the district court, including many women's rights activists.
The former president, in office for seven years from 2000, had denied the charges.
He had rejected a plea bargain in 2008 that would have seen him plead guilty to sexual misconduct but avoid more serious charges.
According to the indictment, the rape charges dated back to April 1998 when Woman A alleged he had first raped her at the Tourism Ministry office and later at a hotel in Jerusalem.
The further charges related to claims of sexual harassment of two women in 2003 and 2005 during his presidency.
BBC News - Israel ex-President Moshe Katsav found guilty of rape
