Israel ex-president Katsav denied early release from rape sentence

JERUSALEM - Agence France-Presse

This file photo taken on March 22, 2011 shows former Israeli president Moshe Katsav (C) arriving at the district court in Tel Aviv to hear the verdict after his conviction on two counts of rape and other sexual assault charges - AFP photo

A parole board on April 6 rejected a request for early release for Israeli ex-president Moshe Katsav, who began serving a seven-year prison term in 2011 for rape and other sexual offences.
 
A justice ministry statement announced the refusal, saying the parole board found "he expressed no regret and no sympathy toward the victims of his crimes."  

Katsav has always maintained his innocence despite being convicted in December 2010 on two counts of rape, sexual harassment, indecent acts and obstruction of justice.
 
The 18-month trial included harrowing accusations, and portrayed him as a sexual predator who routinely harassed his female staff.
 
The offences committed against his employees were said to have occurred when he served as tourism minister and president.
 
Katsav became president in 2000 and for months defied enormous public pressure to quit over the allegations before ultimately resigning in 2007.
 
He was replaced by Nobel Peace laureate and elder statesman Shimon Peres in the largely ceremonial post.