Former President Moshe Katsav on Tuesday in a surprise announcement stated he is not accepting the plea bargain agreement and is entering a not guilty plea, willing to stand trial.

State Attorney General Menachem Mazuz expressed surprise over Katsav’s decision, expecting today’s first session in the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court to take another direction. The attorney general hinted that as a result, a more serious indictment will be filed against the former president.

Defense attorney Avigdor Feldman stated that the documents released to him regarding the comprehensive police investigation indicate the state does not have the conclusive proof required to convict Mr. Katsav of the charges that compelled him to resign from office.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)