一家以色列法院裁定,前总统卡察夫强奸和性骚扰两项罪名成立。特拉维夫法院星期四作出宣判。三位法官组成的庭审小组表示,卡察夫对有关事件的解释“充满了谎言”。卡察夫离开法庭时没有置评。他可以上诉,但是法律专家说,他们预计此裁决不会被推翻。这位在伊朗出生的政治家可能因强奸罪名成立被判4~16年徒刑。这一案件的起因是,在卡察夫1990年代担任以色列旅游部长和在2000年初担任总统期间,为他工作的三名妇女对他提出指控。
以色列总理内塔尼亚胡说,这是“以色列国家悲痛的一天”。他还表示,法庭发出了两个信息:在法律面前男女平等以及妇女有充分的权利保护自己的身体。妇女权利组织对判决表示欢迎。此前,他们于星期四在法庭外示威,表达对卡察夫案原告的支持。
An Israeli court has convicted former President Moshe Katsav on two counts of rape and sexual harassment. The Tel Aviv court issued its verdict Thursday. The three-judge panel said Mr. Katsav’s version of events was “riddled with lies.” Mr. Katsav did not comment when he left the courthouse. He can appeal, but legal experts say they do not expect the ruling to be overturned. The Iranian-born politician could face a prison sentence ranging from four to 16 years on the rape conviction. The case stemmed from accusations made by three women who worked for him while he served as Israel’s tourism minister in the 1990s and president earlier this decade.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the case a “sad day for the state of Israel.” He also said the court sent two messages — that men and women were equal under the law and that women had full rights to their own bodies. Women’s rights groups welcomed the verdict after demonstrating outside of the court Thursday to show solidarity with Mr. Katsav’s accusers.