The detention of an IDF officer on suspicions of disrupting legal proceedings to help a female soldier under his command has developed into a larger affair concerning the officer's entire unit.
At least 12 soldiers stationed
| Revealed |
|
| Suspicion: Officer warned female soldier of drug test / Hanan Greenberg |
|
Engineering Corps captain arrested for suspicion of informing female soldier under his command that Military Police plans to give her a drug test |
| Full story |
|
|
|
in the Gaza Strip area have been investigated on suspicions of drug use, several already indicted on charges.
Five female soldiers have been accused by the Southern Command's military court of using several types of drugs while on army duty and while on leave. Drugs were even found in the room of one of the soldiers on the base.
The affair began several weeks ago when the IDF Investigation Unit received intelligence information regarding a female soldier who had been using drugs for an extended period of time.
The unit's investigators notified the soldier's commander that they intended on arriving at the base a number of days later.
The commander summoned the soldier and informed her about the secret investigation. He then allegedly recommended she ask for a few sick days to avoid the urine test that Military Police had planned to give her.
The officer was arrested for violating IDF regulations and on Wednesday was demoted and sentenced to a one year active prison term.
Officer set to appeal ruling
Prior to sentencing, the panel of judges said the officer had expressed deep regret for his actions and clarified that he did what he could to assist the soldier in rehabilitating her life.
Furthermore, the judges noted the officer's contribution during his army service and the life-risking operations he was involved in, however decided to punish him "as he failed to report that the soldiers in his unit were involved in such a harsh
drug offense and even assisted by deceiving Military Police investigators."
"He feels very hurt. He has always served on the front line under fire, but the system refused to take this into account when he made a mistake," the officer's attorney told Ynet, adding that he plans to appeal the ruling.
IDF: Military Police in continual fight against drugs
Prosecutors submitted an indictment against the female soldier whom the officer attempted to defend, on charges of using cocaine, ecstasy and hashish.
An indictment was also submitted against four of the soldier's friends. Another four soldiers of the same unit are expected to be charged within the next few days.
"Following covert intelligence operations at a base in southern Israel, 12 soldiers were interrogated, and nine have been handed with indictments of drug possession. Military Police constantly fights with determination to eradicate and prevent the use of drugs within the army," an IDF spokesman said in response to the arrests.
RSS
