Itongadol.- Supreme Court Justice Neal Hendel on Monday rejected former president Moshe Katsav\’s request for a retrial on a 2010 conviction for a series of sex crimes, including rape, for which he is currently serving seven years in Ma\’asiyahu prison in Ramle.
In his decision, Hendel wrote that "Katsav based his request on the belief his conviction was a distortion of justice. However, when he presents his claims, one-by-one, the impression is made that this is in actuality a renewed presentation of what are clearly questions of appeal which have already been examined at length and rejected."
Hendel said that Katsav\’s claims do not raise fears that his conviction was a distortion of justice.
He stated that the complainant\’s testimony about the act of rape for which Katsav was convicted was credible, whereas the former president\’s version of events lacked credibility.
"The fact that it could not be determined with absolute certainty the exact time that the rape occurred does not alone raise reasonable doubt or justify a distortion of justice which necessitates a retrial," Hendel said.
Katsav was convicted of two counts of rape, one count of committing an indecent act using force, one count of committing an indecent act, two counts of sexual harassment, one count of harassing a witness and one count of obstructing justice. He began serving his seven-year sentence in December 2011.