The indictment was filed in a Tel Aviv district court. No trial date has been set.

Katsav was charged with raping a woman who once worked for him, in addition to lesser sex crimes against two other former female employees.

Allegations by a fourth former employee were not included in the indictment because of a lack of evidence, the justice ministry said.

The women worked for Katsav when he was tourism minister in the 1990s and president earlier this decade. They have accused him of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment.

Katsav contends he is innocent. Nearly a year ago, he called off a plea bargain that would have allowed him to escape jail time.

He says he wants to go to trial to clear his name.

Katsav resigned in 2007, two weeks before his seven-year term expired. -- AP