TEL AVIV, Israel - March 22, 2011 - Former Israeli president Moshe Katsav was on Tuesday sentenced to seven years behind bars after being convicted on two counts of rape and other offenses in a scandal that has rocked Israel.
The judges also handed him a two-year suspended sentence and ordered him to pay compensation of 100,000 shekels ($28,000) to the main victim, known only as "Aleph", as well as 25,000 shekels ($7,000) to a second victim.
"This is a victory for lies!" shouted the 65-year-old as the sentence was read by presiding Judge George Kara, with his legal team vowing to appeal.
Katsav was convicted in December of rape, sexual harassment, indecent acts, and obstruction of justice, after an 18-month trial that included harrowing accusations and portrayed him as a sexual predator who routinely harassed his female staff.
The sentence was hailed by women's campaigners as a "great achievement" but denounced by Katsav's legal team as a "day of mourning for Israel."
