22 March 2011 Last updated at 15:23 GMT

Israel ex-President Moshe Katsav jailed for violation

Moshe Katsav still maintains his innocence

Israel's former President Moshe Katsav has been jailed for seven years for violation and other sex offences.

He was convicted at an earlier hearing of despoiling an employee in the 1990s when he was tourism minister, and of later sexual offences while he was president.

The violation victim, known as Woman A, told the court he had first attacked her at the tourism ministry office, and later at a hotel in Jerusalem.

Katsav, 65, resigned from the largely ceremonial post of president in 2007.

He had initially agreed with prosecutors to plead guilty to sexual misconduct, avoiding more serious charges.

But he later withdrew the agreement and denied the violation allegations.

Sentencing Katsav - the first former Israeli head of state to be jailed - the judges told him no-one was above the law.

The Associated Press reported that Katsav broke down in tears when he heard the sentence, shouting at the judges: "You made a mistake. It is a lie. The girls know it is a lie."

'Riddled with lies'

Mr Katsav will not go to jail immediately, with his sentence due to begin on 8 May. However, he has 45 days to appeal against the sentence.

After his conviction in December last year, Israeli media dubbed the case a political earthquake, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as "a sad day for Israel and its residents".

According to court documents, he committed the violation in April 1998, and sexually harassed two women in 2003 and 2005 during his presidency.

Judge George Karra told him: "We believe the plaintiff [Woman A] because her testimony is supported by elements of evidence and she told the truth."

The judges said Katsav's evidence had been "riddled with lies".

Women's groups in Israel welcomed the conviction, arguing that allegations of sexual harassment were too often ignored.

Both Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the sentencing marked a sad day for Israel, Israel's Haaertz newspaper reports.

"This is an extraordinary day in the state of Israel," Mr Netanyahu said.

"This is a day of sadness and shame, but it is also a day of deep appreciation and pride for the Israeli justice system."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12815941

A whole president, jailed?

Quite impressive.

I don't think that could happen in the US.

I also don't think it can happen in the grand ol US of A.

Let's see what becomes of Berlusconi in Italy.

I am not expecting much though.

@Topic,
That's very impressive . . . . . .US are bleeping COWARD to conduct a rightful judgements such as this.

johnie:

Let's see what becomes of Berlusconi in Italy.

I am not expecting much though.

From what I read/hear, Italy is extremely corrupt, lol. I expect him to get off scot free.

ekt_bear:

From what I read/hear, Italy is extremely corrupt, lol. I expect him to get off scot free.

VS

eku_bear:

A whole president, jailed?

Quite impressive.

I don't think that could happen in the US.

Impersonation of the highest order!!!

That is part of the reason I wonder when people say corruption is the root of all Nigeria's problems.

Most of these Latin culture countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, South America, Mexico) are pretty corrupt. Yet they are all far richer than Nigeria.

But yeah, Berlusconi makes some of our Nigerian politicians look like small fry.

@Seanet02: Spambot doesn't think too highly of me 

Putin's comment to this guy was hilarious. After that comment I finally got why the Russians love Putin so much.

“Say hello to your president. What a strong man! He r.a.ped ten women! I never expected that from him! We all envy him,” NEWSru Israel quoted Putin as saying.

Putin?

They are probably birds of the same feather!



Putin Implicated in Berlusconi Sex Scandal

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's name has been involved in the sex scandals around his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi, according to the Italian press.

The Italian prime minister is facing accusations of paying to have sex during erotic parties that he hosted in his houses and apartments in Milan. Prosecutors accuse him of having had sex with Kariba el-Mahroug, an underage girl of Moroccan origin known as Ruby.

Italian media have made public wiretaps describing the sex parties in Berlusconi's premises. The Italian PM has refuted the accusations as a plot.

The worsening of Berlusconi's new sexgate in Italy could jeopardize his government as, unlike a previous sex scandal in 2009 that he fended off, this time he enjoys a thin majority.

A new detail has added international flavor to the sexgate – the allegation that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was present at one of Berlusconi's sex parties on April 25-26, 2010, in a villa outside Milan.

The Italian prosecutors are investigating whether Putin met the underage prostitute Ruby; reports say an Italian court could even summon the Russian PM as witness during the investigation of Berlusconi's orgies.

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=124358

Photo: Berlusconi (left) with Medvedev and Putin in December 2010 in Sochi. Putin has become an alleged participant in Berlusconi's sex orgies. Photo by BGNES

johnie:

A new detail has added international flavor to the sexgate – the allegation that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was present at one of Berlusconi's sex parties on April 25-26, 2010, in a villa outside Milan.

The Italian prosecutors are investigating whether Putin met the underage love-peddler Ruby; reports say an Italian court could even summon the Russian PM as witness during the investigation of Berlusconi's sin assemblies.

This sounds like the plot of a indecency movie, not real life. Wow.

Contrast that with Clinton getting impeached for his little escapade. Different cultures, I guess.

If you ask me the Italians are some of the most corrupt people in the world.

As for Berlusconi, the guy is an artful dodger.

Check this rap sheet out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trials_involving_Silvio_Berlusconi

You can see why the guy has to be prime minister, even at his old age (undergoing all kinds of surgery to look young).

He needs the power to protect his business and pleasure interests!

Berlusconi’s sex tape scandal now has Putin’s bed in it
By ANI
Wednesday, July 22, 2009


LONDON - Besides Silvio Berlusconi and his alleged sexcapades, another mysterious element which emerged from the sex tapes was his reference to Putin’s bed. The audiotapes of the Italian Prime Minister’s alleged encounter with an escort girl at his Rome residence were posted on the Internet.


The Italian daily La Repubblica and its sister weekly, L’Espresso, published bits and bobs of the alleged bedroom conversation between Berlusconi and Patrizia D’Addario, the woman whom his aides describe as a prostitute, reports The Times.

D’Addario claims to have made the recordings during two visits that she made to Palazzo Grazioli, Berlusconi’s Rome residence.

The tapes have been presented as evidence to back her claims.

In one, Berlusconi apparently tells D’Addario to wait for him on the four-poster “Putin bed” - said to have been a gift from Vladimir Putin, the Russian Prime Minister - while they each take a shower.

Berlusconi is heard to say: “I will take a shower as well . . . and then wait for me on the big bed if you finish first?” D’Addario replies: “Which bed . . . that Putin one?”

Berlusconi: “The Putin one.”

D’Addario: “Oh how sweet, the one with the curtains.”

When The Times reached Vladimir Putin’s office, a rep said that the Russian Prime Minister had never given the gift of a bed to Berlusconi.

Another theory is that Putin spent a night in the bed while staying at Berlusconi’s Rome residence.

The pair are known to be good friends.

At a press conference, Berlusconi described Putin as “very friendly. He has shown himself to be a great friend by coming here.”

Repaying the compliment, Putin said Italian women were second only to those in Russia.

He added: “I have always reacted negatively to those who with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies prowl into others’ lives.” (ANI)


http://news.gaeatimes.com/the-mystery-of-berlusconi-sex-tapes-and-putins-bed-117003/

This Berlusconi guy seems to be a top gangster like we see in mafian movies. His rap sheet is what i never imagine possible and he still maintain a position as prime minister? Waoh!

johnie:

If you ask me the Italians are some of the most corrupt people in the world.

As for Berlusconi, the guy is an artful dodger.

Check this rap sheet out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trials_involving_Silvio_Berlusconi

You can see why the guy has to be prime minister, even at his old age (undergoing  all kinds of surgery to look young).

He needs the power to protect his business and pleasure interests!

Yeah, Berlusconi's a blatant criminal. He's a national embarrassment for them, but he still has a significant following. It's kind of strange.

Kremlin tries to explain away Putin's Katsav rape joke

The Kremlin on Friday tried to explain away President Vladimir Putin's joke about rape charges against Israel's president, blaming difficulties in translating from Russian to English.

Putin's comments to visiting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday, in which he appeared to joke about the allegations, have come as a shock to Kremlin-watchers hardened to the president's earthy language and comments.

"Say hello to your president. He really surprised us, ," Putin said to Olmert as reporters were being ushered out just after the two men got down to talks in the Kremlin. An Israeli official said Putin continued about President Moshe Katsav: "I met him. He didn't look like a guy who could be with 10 women."





Putin often tries to establish rapport with fellow leaders by joking about current affairs, but the jokes often seem to be a vehicle for exposing their weak points.

At a July news conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in St. Petersburg, Putin parried a question about democratic backsliding in his country by pointedly referring to a corruption scandal implicating the British leadership.

But Putin also shows off earthy language - sometimes in jest, sometimes in anger. Early on in his presidency, Putin crudely called for "wiping out Chechen rebels in the outhouse" and he famously suggested that a French reporter who had posed an uncomfortable question about abuses against civilians in mostly Muslim Chechnya travel to Russia for a circumcision.

"I would recommend that he who does the surgery does it so you'll have nothing growing back, afterward," Putin said.

In June, foreign news executives were taken aback when Putin hit back at a question about whether Russia would favor sanctions against Iran if it failed to stop enriching uranium.

"What if my grandmother had certain sexual attributes?" he snapped, dismissing the question as merely rhetorical. "Then she would be my grandfather."



http://www.haaretz.com/news/kremlin-tries-to-explain-away-putin-s-katsav-rape-joke-1.202938

In June, foreign news executives were taken aback when Putin hit back at a question about whether Russia would favor sanctions against Iran if it failed to stop enriching uranium.

"What if my grandmother had certain sexual attributes?" he snapped, dismissing the question as merely rhetorical. "Then she would be my grandfather."

Classic.

From a 2009 blog:

Three of the World’s Most Interesting People

This man (pictured above) is the current Prime Minister of Italy – and my personal guess is that he inspired the entire Dos Equis ad campaign. Currently doing his third stint at the country’s helm, he also owns about half of Italy’s popular media outlets. Berlusconi also owns the AC Milan soccer club, AND is a successful songwriter.

On top of that, he boasts a pitch-perfect, very-suave, very-creepy smile. But what Berlusconi is maybe even more well known for is his crassness, and for his many mistresses. He did make former showgirl and nude model Mara Carfagna one of his ministers. Smooth movies, Silvio. The perma-tan is maybe not the only thing you have in common with Hugh Hefner…

http://www.youthink.ca/yt/blogs/current-events/three-world%E2%80%99s-most-interesting-people

in case you are wondering who the other two are:

Taro Aso
Living in a similar kind of luxury is Japan’s current Prime Minister, Taro Aso, who reportedly dines in extravagant restaurants and hotels daily. He also reads manga, and he’s Roman Catholic – which puts him in a one per cent minority religion within his country. Aso is fluent in Portuguese and English, and to round off the resumé, also went to the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal with Japan’s shooting team. He’s known for charisma and strong opinions which often wedge him into difficult spots. And he’s always looking sharp – if you ask me, kinda like Japan’s James Bond

Yulia Tymoshenko
At age forty-eight she’s been Prime Minister of the Ukraine twice, in 2004 playing a crucial role in the Orange Revolution in her country. (That November reports started flooding in that a recent election had been fixed by the government; Tymoshenko’s compelling speeches at rallies and protests helped to push the revote.) Pre-politics, she made her fortune in the energy sector – and is even wanted in Russia for allegations of fraud. Since that time, Tymoshenko has made several reforms to the Ukraine’s energy policies, and her relations with Russia have only gotten worse. All this, plus her trademark Princess Leia-reminiscent braids, have made her famous in European politics.

and a few interesting comments on the blog post,


Submitted by ninakiri on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 19:15. As naive as it might sound, thinking of politicians, I don't ever think of them as people, just figures that make very important decisions in our world. It's cool to see that they can be interesting as well. Not only that, but it kind of angers me that people who may have smart and important things to say will never get their voice heard while other people who spend money extravagantly dining wherever they want and choosing nude models to be their ministers are making global decisions.


Submitted by Dystel on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 18:51.
Even politics aren't boring, and never have been! I wonder how anyone could think the politicians themselves aren't worthy of the fame and adoration of the masses! Think celebrities, only with even MORE wealth and power. Wait, scratch that. This is starting to seem like a bad idea. Personality cult, anyone?

Maybe it's better if we kept the fascinating backgrounds and habits of politicians under wraps. Still, I have to say that Vladimir Putin is my favourite politician. He puts all of the recent U.S. presidents to shame. In his exchanges with Bush and his comments on Hilary Clinton, he flaunts his razor sharp wit and leaves the reporters awestruck. What's even more amusing is the fact that when he has to sit through press conferences, he scribbles on notepads to appear busy. I think that only adds to his charisma, as it makes him seem as if he's too busy and important to pay attention to the trite questions and comments. The politicians listed above seem just as extraordinary, and it's great to know these interesting facts about them.

johnie:


Still, I have to say that Vladimir Putin is my favourite politician. He puts all of the recent U.S. presidents to shame. In his exchanges with Bush and his comments on Hilary Clinton, he flaunts his razor sharp wit and leaves the reporters awestruck. What's even more amusing is the fact that when he has to sit through press conferences, he scribbles on notepads to appear busy. I think that only adds to his charisma, as it makes him seem as if he's too busy and important to pay attention to the trite questions and comments. The politicians listed above seem just as extraordinary, and it's great to know these interesting facts about them.

Can't even hate.