CrimProf Emmanuel Gross Discusses Israeli President's Plea Deal

From jpost.com: University of Haifa CrimProf Emmanuel Gross commented on Israeli Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz decision Thursday for a plea bargain agreement that he arranged with President Moshe Katsav in the state's lengthy and highly public investigation of numerous claims of sexual misconduct.

CrimProf Gross said he could not understand the drastic turnabout in Mazuz's decision. "I don't understand the reasons for it, the factors involved and certainly not its logic," he said in a TV interview. "From the point of view of someone not directly involved in the affair, this is one of the less attractive days for Israel and the institution of the attorney-general. The turnabout is absolutely illogical and absolutely unreasonable."

Rather than face a trial on charges including two counts of rape, the president has agreed to admit to committing an indecent act without consent through the use of pressure, sexual harassment and harassing a witness.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison - but Katsav will not spend a day behind bars, because the state has agreed to a one-year suspended sentence.

The president is also due to hand in his resignation from the office on Friday. His full seven-year term of office was due to end in two weeks. Rest of Article. . . [Mark Godsey]