Former President Moshe Katsav’s attorney on Thursday morning 11 Iyar filed an appeal on his behalf in light of a parole board rejecting his request for early release. The former president sought to wipe a third off his sentence in line with standard Israel Prison Service practice, for good behavior.

However, due to the high profile nature of his case his request was denied and he will be compelled to continue serving the remainder of his seven-year jail sentence. One of the reasons is believed to be the fact that Mr. Katsav maintains his innocence and a prerequisite for early release includes one’s expression of remorse, which he is unwilling to do.

There have also been reports that the former president will file a request for a presidential pardon from President Reuven Rivlin if the standard channels for early release are unsuccessful.

Persons close to Mr. Katsav report a sharp and worrisome deterioration in his mental status since the parole board turned down his request. Opponents to his early release have stated the prison system has competent mental health services that Mr. Katsav may avail himself of but his mental status does not justify his early release based on the seriousness of his crimes and the fact he was a national symbol and he must therefore be held to a higher standard.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)