Moshe Katsav was being grilled by police on Wednesday on allegations of sexual harassment in the latest scandal to hit a leadership already reeling over failures in the Lebanon war.
JERUSALEM: Israeli President Moshe Katsav was being grilled by police on Wednesday on allegations of sexual harassment in the latest scandal to hit a leadership already reeling over failures in the Lebanon war.
Allegations of sexual shenanigans and that his office granted unlawful pardons may cost the Iranian-born head of state his job, which could make him Israel's second consecutive president to resign amid scandal.
Investigators arrived at his Jerusalem residence in the morning to question Katsav under caution about what the press said were the criminal offences of prohibited sexual relations, exploitation of status and possibly even rape.
"I can confirm that the investigators are there at the president's residence," said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld. Four hours later he said the questioning was still going on, but provided no details on their nature.
This is the first time that 61-year-old Katsav has been grilled by investigators since the damaging allegations first surfaced a few months ago.
Two days ago, police raided his home and office, confiscating computers and documents in what is fast becoming the biggest of a series of sexual and financial scandals compromising senior Israeli state figures.
The 'Maariv' newspaper said that, according to one senior police officer, there is already enough evidence to indict Katzav, who has repeatedly denied having sexual relations with any employee from his office.
"The material that has been compiled thus far in the affair is more significant and dramatic than that which has been made public," a senior officer was quoted as telling the 'Haaretz' newspaper.
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