An Israeli parole board ruled Sunday that former president Moshe Katsav [official profile] will be released after serving five years of his seven-year sentence [JURIST report] for rape. After failing [NYT report] earlier this year to gain release, Katsav is to be released next week. Over the term of his imprisonment, Katsav was subject to fewer restrictions, including several day-long release passes [JURIST report].

Katsav, who served in the largely ceremonial role of president of Israel from 2000 to 2007, was first accused [JURIST report] of rape and sexual harassment in 2006. Though a prominent politician throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, Katsav’s career ended abruptly after multiple women accused him of rape in the 2006 allegations. After resigning his position in 2007, Katsav was indicted in 2009 [JURIST report], convicted [JURIST report] in 2010 and imprisoned in 2011 after the Supreme Court of Israel rejected his appeal [JURIST report].