Louai Balut
Gil Nechoshtan
Identity of NCO charged with spying for Hizbullah revealed
Louai Balut meets with family for first time since arrest on espionage, drug charges. Continues to insist allegations are conspiracy
The Haifa Military Court on Thursday remanded to custody for an additional four days First Sergeant Major Louai Balut, a 34-year-old from the village of Fasuta in the Upper Galilee accused of aiding Hizbullah. In addition the court released his name for publication.
Military Prosecution representatives stated in court that an indictment will be filed against Balut by next Monday. He is accused of contact with a foreign agent and espionage, and was detained on illegal drug charges, as well as charges of assisting Hizbullah
operatives and handing sensitive military information over to them.
Spy Games
Indictment to be filed against non-commissioned officer suspected of disclosing sensitive information to Hizbullah terrorists in south Lebanon as part of drug-smuggling operation
On Thursday, for the first time since his arrest, Balut met with his family, but was not permitted to speak with them. His wife and three children were not present. His family maintains that Balut is innocent, and that the allegations were part of a conspiracy against him, concocted by drug dealers he assisted the police in nabbing.
Balut's attorney claimed that the IDF has not yet transferred all of the documents citing the specific allegations against his client, but insisted Balut was innocent.
Chief Superintendent Shmuel Boker, head of the Galilee Sub-District's central police unit, told Ynet the two-month investigation revealed that the drug smugglers had recruited the NCO, who "helped them smuggle drugs in from Lebanon."
"We understand he also committed State security offences and handed information over to hostile agents in Lebanon. We gathered information on the matter and transferred it to the IDF and the Shin Bet," he added.
