Minister faces jail over stolen kiss

[Snowden]

Minister faces jail over stolen kiss

David Sharrock in Jerusalem
Olmert ally guilty of harassment
Party’s ratings fall to record low

The troubles swirling around Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, intensified yesterday when a close friend and ally was convicted of kissing a young soldier against her will.


Haim Ramon, 56, faces up to three years in prison after a court rejected his defence that his kiss with the 21-year-old was consensual. It took place at a Defence Ministry party on the first day of Israel’s conflict with Lebanon last summer.
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The case has left the country riveted at a time when President Katsav is facing allegations of rape and Mr Olmert is being investigated by police over corruption claims.


President Katsav has taken a temporary leave of absence from his office and was ordered by the Attorney-General yesterday to vacate the President’s official residence.

Poll ratings for Mr Olmert’s Kadima party — which Ramon helped to establish — have slumped to 14 per cent and the Prime Minister is struggling to restore confidence.

He will take a first step in the coming days with a Cabinet reshuffle in which Amir Peretz, the Defence Minister, may be moved.

Last week Danny Halutz, the Israeli Armed Forces Chief of Staff, resigned over Mr Peretz’s handling of the Lebanon conflict and there is significant public pressure for Mr Peretz and Mr Olmert to follow suit.

Mr Olmert was wrong- footed by yesterday’s verdict against his friend. He had been preparing to reinstate Ramon, who is divorced, as Justice Minister.

Instead, Ramon’s political career is in ruins. Sentencing was delayed until later this month.

Ramon had not denied that he kissed the woman, who has not been named, but said that she had flirted with him and that the kiss was consensual.

But a three-judge panel ruled: “The complainant’s account is the absolute truth. Ramon did not stick to the truth, exaggerated the part played by the complainant and distorted the facts.”

Judge Hayuta Kockan, who read the unanimous verdict, said: “There are some lines that cannot be crossed. This was not a kiss of affection. This has all the elements of sexual crime.”

The ruling added that the woman’s testimony had been “credible and undeviating” while Ramon’s behaviour was “humiliating and intrusive”.

Both sides agreed that the woman, referred to as H, who was finishing her army service, asked to be photographed hugging Ramon. According to the indictment, she then tried to leave, but “the defendant continued to embrace her body with one hand and drew her near.

“With the other hand, he grasped her cheeks, turned her face toward him and pressed his lips to her lips, while inserting his tongue into her mouth, all without her consent.”

Mr Olmert issued a statement expressing his “deep sorrow” over the verdict. Many politicians expressed their dismay at the severity of the sentence while others called it another nail in the Government’s coffin.

As the half-hour verdict was read in a Tel Aviv court, Ramon held his head in his hands. After the decision, his girlfriend hugged him in support.

Scandal in high places
Moshe Katsav President under investigation on allegations of rape and sexual assault. On leave of absence

Ehud Olmert Prime Minister accused of corruption in Jerusalem property deals. It is alleged that he received payments for a house above the true market value

Tzahi Hanegbi Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee. Indicted last year on charges of fraud, bribery, providing false testimony and lying under oath. The charges related to unlawful appointments allegedly made while a government minister

Omri Sharon Son of Ariel Sharon, the former Prime Minister. Sentenced to nine months in prison in 2006 on corruption charges. Between July 1999 and February 2000 he received $1.3 million for his father's campaign to lead the Likud party. Far in excess of the allowed limit, he covered up the sums involved

Ezer Weizman Former President. Received $450,000 in gifts from French millionaire Edouard Saroussi in the 1980s when he was a minister. public criticism forced his resignation in July 2000 Source: Agencies


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