President may face rape, fraud charges

? Police recommended Sunday that Israeli President Moshe Katsav be charged with rape, sexual assault and fraud, the most serious charges ever to face an Israeli leader.

The recommendation came at a meeting between police investigators and Atty. Gen. Meni Mazuz. The final decision on whether to put the president on trial is up to Mazuz.

Katsav has denied all wrongdoing. In a recent Israel radio interview, he said the complaints against him were staged by political enemies.

A police statement issued Sunday said the complaints were filed by “women who worked under his (Katsav’s) authority.” It said there was evidence he committed crimes of “rape, aggravated sexual assault, indecent acts without permission and offenses under the law to prevent sexual harassment.”

The statement also said police found basis for charges of illegal wiretapping, and fraud and malfeasance in office in the case of pardons granted by the president.