Hamas gunman
Photo: Reuters
Confiscated weapons smuggled from Egypt
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Office
Soldier to be indicted for selling arms
A soldier will be indicted for stealing 7 rifles from an IDF base, selling them to terror groups in territories
The Military Prosecution intends to file an indictment next Monday against a soldier suspected of selling arms to terror groups in the Palestinian territories, the military said Tuesday.
News of the incident was initially revealed by Ynet three weeks ago, yet, following a decree issued by a military court banning the publication of information related to the inquiry against the soldier, the story had to be taken off the air.
Prosecutors demanded the Northern Command Military Court extend the remand of the soldier for a third consecutive time.
The soldier belongs to the Engineering Corps and has participated in IDF operations in Ramallah. A few months ago he was transferred to the Logistics Corps.
A month ago an M-16 rifle went missing from an IDF base in the Golan Heights. An investigation launched by Military Police pointed to the soldier as a main suspect.
Soldier claims he was threatened by terror groups
Upon his arrest, the soldier’s attorney argued her client, of Druze origin, had been subjected to pressure by terror organizations who threatened to harm him and his family if he refuses to smuggle arms from the base.
The Druze soldier admitted to having smuggled three rifles, yet investigators estimated that seven rifles had been stolen from the base and sold in return for undisclosed sums of money.
The soldier’s attorney, Tami Olman, told Ynet that her client was interrogated under severe conditions and had attempted to commit suicide.
“We attach the utmost importance to the disappearance of arms, including rifles, because we know they might reach criminal and terror groups. It is no secret that terror groups use these arms to carry out attacks against Israeli citizens and soldiers. Events where weapons go missing are investigated by the cream of our investigators,” a Military Police official told Ynet.
The source noted that the successful stealing of seven rifles without being caught point to the soldier’s skill as a professional robber.
