Following a 12-hour hearing Sunday, the Israel Prison Service's parole board said it would postpone a decision on former President Moshe Katsav's early release until next week. Katsav appeared before the board with his lawyers Zion Amir and Yehoshua Reznik. Representatives from the State Attorney's Office, who were also present at the hearing, asked the board to deny Katsav's request for conditional release, noting that Katsav was convicted of heinous crimes, has yet to express remorse, and has refused to undergo therapy as other sexual offenders who are up for parole do. Katsav told the board members that he has suffered immensely over the past 10 years, especially during the four years he has spent behind bars. "I did what I had to do, I complied with the prison rules, I am not a dangerous person," he told the board. Katsav said he was a victim of a conspiracy against him and he could not express remorse over something he did not commit. With tears in his eyes, he said, "I am 71 years old, I paid dearly, and I am innocent; I will not confess to something I did not do." Katsav was convicted in 2010 of two counts of rape as well of two indecent acts (including one forcibly), sexual harassment, and obstruction of justice. He was imprisoned in the religious wing of Maasiyahu Prison in December 2011. Under Israeli law, a parole board can release inmates for good behavior after they have served two-thirds of their sentence, provided certain conditions are met. Ahead of his parole hearing, Katsav was evaluated by mental health professionals from the Health Ministry to determine whether he poses a threat. The Israel Prison Service also evaluated his behavior throughout his incarceration. Both bodies submitted a positive review to the parole board, pointing out his good conduct during his furloughs over the past two years. Following the hearing, Katsav's lawyers did not elaborate on their chances of success. "I don't want to enter a guessing game and engage in speculation," said Amir. "The rationale I used to explain why Katsav deserves to be released is the most just rationale I have ever used. When the law is clear and stipulates that certain conditions must be met in order to get parole, the law must be followed." Odelia Karmon, one of the key witnesses in Katsav's trial, spoke on the parole board's upcoming decision on Sunday. At a benefit for victims of sexual assault, Karmon said that she hoped "the board arrives at the proper decision and that it gives tailwind to victims who come out, by having them feel that the law is at their side and that the country properly deals with sexual offenders."
