I am innocent, says IDF officer suspected of treason
First Sergeant Major Louai Balut accused of assisting Hizbullah in war against Israel by handing confidential information to militants. Balut claims innocence: 'I am proud to be a soldier'
The Military Prosecutor's Office on Monday indicted First Sergeant Major Louai Balut, suspected of cooperating with Hizbullah.
The charges against him include two counts of treason, three counts of affiliation with a foreign agent, assisting the enemy during wartime, and informing the enemy. He was also charged with illegal drug trafficking. His remand to custody was extended until April 28.
According to the indictment served at Haifa Military Court, Balut had contacts with Abu Hassan, a citizen of Lebanon active in Hizbullah, between December 2007 and February 2008.
He was accused of informing Abu Hassan of different IDF activities during cellular phone conversations. He also passed information to another Hizbullah militant, Abu Ali.
Balut is charged with having contact with Abu Ali on 20 different occasions in an attempt to assist Hizbullah's war against Israel. The indictment also mentions a third Hizbullah member, Elias Hatzbani. The information that Balut passed on to the militants is described within a secret document.
During a court recess, Balut told the media that he knew the people he had contact with were Hizbullah militants, but that they drew him towards revealing information. He continued to insist upon his innocence: "I didn't kill anyone. I have no blood on my hands other than that of terrorists. I didn't smuggle anything or betray anyone, and I am hurt that these things have been said about me."
Defense Attorney Tami Ulman remarked that she was not responsible for the things he said. "He has been claiming his innocence," she said, "but stranger things have happened."
Proud to be a soldier
In reference to the drug charges Balut also pleaded innocence. "I am proud to be an Israeli soldier," he said, adding that he has no complaints towards the State, as the investigation was lawful and fair.
"I will have my say and reply to the accusations against me in court," he said. "It's hard to be in prison, and it's demeaning, but for someone who knows he is innocent, like me, it's bearable." He added that when he is proclaimed innocent he will request to go back to serving in the army.
The charge of treason carries a maximum penalty of death. In the indictment the charge is defined along the general lines of the law, which states that the accused is charged with knowingly passing along information to the enemy about any and all IDF activities or details.
Conviction in cases of treason is extremely rare, and therefore the prosecution included other clauses in the indictment, defined as 'assisting the enemy during wartime'.
The prosecution has also objected to revealing all investigative documents to the defense. The judge determined that the documents should be handed to the defense, but allowed the prosecution a few days to make the necessary preparations with IDF security, as they are confidential.
