JERUSALEM: Katsav lawyers says president denies sex allegations after extensive police quiz.

Israeli police questioned President Moshe Katsav on Wednesday (AUgust 23) over allegations he forced a former female employee into having sex with him, police said. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Katsav was questioned at the president's Jerusalem residence for five hours. Police would resume the questioning on Thursday, he added. "He was questioned under caution on suspicion of sexual harassment," Rosenfeld said. The investigation came as Israel's attorney general indicted former Justice Minister Haim Ramon over charges he allegedly forced a kiss on a government employee, the attorney general's office said. Katsav has denied any wrongdoing and a spokeswoman said this week the president was cooperating with the investigation. The scandal is unlikely to have significant political repercussions as Katsav's post is largely ceremonial. Hours after investigators entered the president's formal residence, his lawyer Zion Namir said the president cooperated and denies the allegations. "The president committed of course the entire way to cooporate and be there at all times and cancel personal commitments and family vacations scheduled in order hurry up this investigation and bring it to an end as quickly as possible; therefore, he is available to the investigators today, tomorrow, anytime," Namir told reporters outside the residence. If police bring charges, Katsav is immune from standing trial but could be impeached by parliament if it determines he acted inappropriately. He has been president since 2000. Police seized computers and documents from his residence and office on Tuesday. The scandal involving Katsav and separate allegations against other public figures have darkened the mood in Israel, where major leaders, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, have come under fire over the costly month-long war in Lebanon. The attorney general's office said in a statement that Ramon was charged with an indecent act for allegedly kissing a government employee. Ramon has denied any wrongdoing. The attorney general informed Ramon last week he planned to hand down the indictment and Ramon resigned on Sunday. Olmert on Wednesday appointed Meir Sheetrit, minister of Housing and Construction, to replace Ramon temporarily. The prime minister himself is under scrutiny, with Israel's top government watchdog examining the terms of his purchase of a Jerusalem apartment for $1.2 million in 2004. And military chief Lieutenant-General Dan Halutz has been criticised for selling his stock portfolio hours after Hizbollah gunmen kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on July 12 that triggered the Lebanon war. "The President did not ever commit any violation and did not misbehave in any way and therefore the answer is clear, he did not harress any man or woman, and this is his version," said Namir. "My client is clean and surely denies all the allegations against him". ends

ITN Source | August 24, 2006

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