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Photo: Gil Yohanan
IDF soldier arrested for stealing 200 shekels from Palestinian car
Soldier charged with looting – an offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment - for pocketing bill found during search of Palestinian car at West Bank checkpoint. Defense attorney says soldier used stolen money to pay off family debts
Military Police officials have confirmed the arrest of a soldier from the Givati Brigade after the latter confessed to stealing a 200 shekel bill ($50) from a Palestinian vehicle after searching it as it passed through an Israeli checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus several weeks ago.
A military policewoman who was also manning the checkpoint spotted him pocketing the money but apparently chose not to report it. Several days after the incident occurred the soldier approached his commanders and confessed to the crime.
Because the nature of the transgression had involved an offense against Palestinian civilians, the military launched a criminal investigation into the matter and took the soldier into custody last week.
The Southern Command's military court extended the soldier's remand until Wednesday – when military prosecutors are scheduled to file an indictment against him.
'He is an outstanding soldier'
The Military Advocate General's office reportedly plans to charge the soldier with looting, which if convicted on carries a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment.
Defense attorney Cpt. Yotam Har-Zion said the impoverished soldier, who lives with his mother, used the stolen $50 to pay off a family debt. The soldier had requested financial aid from the military – which regularly gives stipends to underprivileged soldiers – but was rejected after his situation failed to meet the army's criteria.
"He is an outstanding soldier," said Har-Zion of his client. "This incident was a one-time slip brought on by the soldier's financial hardships. He has expressed his regret to his commanding officers and military investigators."
The army confirmed that the soldier had undergone a polygraph test and was found to be truthful in saying that he had never acted in such a manner in the past.
The accused reportedly told his comrades that he felt betrayed and that despite the severity of his actions does not deserve to be treated like a criminal.
Attorney Benny Koznitz, who has long served as a private counsel to IDF soldiers standing martial trial, said the courts viewed looting cases with the utmost severity because they are they are harmful to the army's image.
However, he added, the court will likely take into account the soldier's previously spotless record and refrain from giving him the maximum possible sentence.
