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Former Israeli president to face rape charges, officials say

  • Story Highlights
  • Justice Ministry: Moshe Katsav will be indicted on rape, sexual assault charges
  • Katsav to face obstruction of justice charge, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz says
  • Katsav, of the center-right Likud Party, was president from 2000 to 2007
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JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel's attorney general will indict former President Moshe Katsav on charges of rape and sexual assault of a number of his employees, the country's justice ministry said Sunday.

Israel's ex-President Moshe Katsav will face rape and sexual assault charges, Israel's Justice Ministry said.

Israel's ex-President Moshe Katsav will face rape and sexual assault charges, Israel's Justice Ministry said.

Katsav will also be charged with obstruction of justice, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said in a statement.

Katsav had agreed in 2007 to plead guilty to lesser charges and pay a fine in order to avoid jail time, but pulled out of the deal when it came time to enter his plea.

The plea bargain caused a public storm in Israel, mainly because it did not include charges of rape, contrary to what had been suggested by Mazuz in a draft indictment. Video Watch more on the expected indictment »

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Katsav, of the center-right Likud Party, was president of Israel from 2000 to 2007. He was minister of tourism before that. The charges stem from allegations made against him in both jobs.

He resigned the presidency in June 2007 over the sexual assault allegations.

CNN's Shira Medding contributed to this report.

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