Former Israeli president Moshe Katsav, who is currently serving a prison sentence for raping employees, has requested a pardon from current President Shimon Peres, local media said Monday.

On Dec. 30, 2010, a court convicted Katzav, 65, of several sexual abuse charges, including two counts of rape and multiple counts of sexual harassment and assault of employees, anonymously referred to in the media as A., L. and H.

The three women were subordinate to him during his terms as tourism minister in the late 1990s and later as president.

The three-judge panel also sentenced Katzav to two years probation and awarded compensation nearing 35,000 U.S. dollars to two of his victims.

Katzav, who was in 2000 chosen over Peres for the largely ceremonial position, is currently on his 10th month of a seven year prison sentence.

In his request, Katzav claimed innocence and asked to be allowed to continue his fight to clear his name.

He charged that he did not receive a fair trial because his then high-profile role fostered slanted and hostile media coverage.

He added that the indictment and his incarceration, as well as his change in status, damaged him personally and, in and of itself was sufficient punishment.

Peres will decide on whether to grant clemency after a Justice Ministry legal evaluation of the request.

Legal experts told the Ynet news website that a presidential pardon is possible only for prisoners who have admitted their crimes and showed remorse, or for convicted sexual offenders who are willing to engage in rehabilitation program, none of which are true in Katsav's case.

Every Israeli citizen has the right to request a presidential pardon under a basic law stating the president may pardon an inmate if his request for shortening or easing his prison term is justified.

In May, the Supreme Court rejected a request by Katzav appealing the length of the prison sentence.