Amid reports it is likely that former President Moshe Katsav will be released from prison, the spokesman for the President’s Residence released a statement to the press that despite reports to the contrary, President Reuven Rivlin has not expressed support for pardoning Katsav should the case be given to him.

The spokesman explained that if and when a pardon request is received on behalf of Katsav, President Rivlin will weigh the facts in the case and reach an appropriate decision.

Channel 10 reported that Katsav is likely to be pardoned by a prison parole board but if this does not occur, a pardon request would be filed on the former president’s behalf with President Reuven Rivlin.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)