Katsav again appeals rape conviction to Israeli Supreme Court

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav has appealed again to Israel’s Supreme Court for a retrial on his convictions of rape, sexual assault and harassment.

His new defense team filed the appeal on Monday, claiming there was a “distortion of judgment” in the original ruling.

A previous appeal to the Supreme Court was turned down, as was a request for clemency from his successor, President Shimon Peres.

Katsav has served two years of a seven-year sentence after being convicted in 2011 in Tel Aviv District Court. He is the first Israeli president ever sentenced to prison.