Indictment sought of former Israeli leader

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav should be indicted after he reneged on a rape case plea bargain, says a petition to Israel's highest court.

Attorneys for The Movement for Quality Government in Israel criticized prosecutors, arguing that Katsav's change of mind four months ago should have immediately triggered prosecution, Ynetnews reported Monday.

"When Katsav announced he was reneging the plea bargain, there was no longer any justification to file a mitigative indictment which would not include the severe charges included in the draft indictment," their petition stated. "The delay in filing an indictment which reflects the severity of the evidence and the attorney general's decision to concede the severe charges, which led to the replacement of the barrister handling the case, are extremely unreasonable.

In particular, they argued delay is unfair to the alleged victim -- identified only as A. -- who worked with Katsav in the tourism office in 2006 at the time of the incident.

"The longer the State Prosecutor's stalls, so does the trial and the expected sentence, and the painful affair remains open, without enabling them to put it behind them," said the petition.