Former President Moshe Katsav will immediately lose NIS 1.2 million in benefits as a result of today's conviction of rape. Three years ago, the Knesset Finance Committee ruled that former presidents, prime ministers, cabinet ministers, and judges will lose their benefits if convicted of a criminal offense involving moral turpitude, either during their term in office, or afterwards.
The decision does not affect pension rights.
The benefits are revoked automatically on the conviction. If the former official appeals the verdict and the court overturns the moral turpitude or acquits the defendant, the benefits are restored, but not retroactively.
Since the benefits are revoked only after the official is convicted by the court or when a plea bargain is upheld, until today, Katsav enjoyed various benefits, including an apartment in Jerusalem, for seven years from the end of his term. During this period, the state also financed his private home expenses, and he was eligible for an office and office services, including two aides, and a car and chauffer, all of which were tax-free.
The Finance Committee decided, however, not to revoke a convicted official's pension, medical services, and hospitalization at the state's expense, as well as the cost and use of a mobile phone. Katsav is eligible for a pension of 100% of his salary (as he was also a former cabinet minister) of NIS 46,278 net per month.
Benefits accruing to Katsav's wife, Gila, are not affected. However, the Finance Committee decided that a widow of a former president convicted of moral turpidute will lose the apartment, office services, car and chauffer, and the installation and maintenance of a telephone.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 30, 2010
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