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Soldiers convicted of receiving bribes jailed

Military Court sends two servicemen convicted of allowing Palestinians through Tulkarem checkpoint unchecked for money, to 10.5 and nine months in jail. 'Troops abused, neglected their duties,' judge says

The Jaffa Military Court sent two Israel Defense Forces soldiers to prison Wednesday, after finding them guilty of allowing Palestinian to enter Israel in exchange of bribes.

 

The two, who serve in the Infantry Corps' Kfir Brigade, were sentenced to 10 and a half and nine months in jail.

 

The incident in question took place in a checkpoint near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, in 2008. The soldiers were stationed at the checkpoint and tasked with validating the identification papers and crossing permits to the Palestinians going through their post.

 

Before too long, their commanding officer was tipped off that the two were paid several hundred shekels to let Palestinians through unchecked. The matter was turned over to the Military Police and an investigation soon followed.

 

'Letting a terrorist into Israel'

The Military Prosecution stressed the gravity of the offenses, saying that they knowingly caused a security breach. The two's company commander, called to testify for the prosecution, equated their actions to "letting a terrorist into Israel."

 

The defense, however, claimed that none of the soldiers' actions caused any real harm.

 

The soldier believed to be the "mastermind" behind the scheme expressed deep remorse for his actions, but the court stated that "the defendant, trusted with safeguarding the security of Israeli citizens, abused and neglected his duties by allowing unauthorized persons through a checkpoint meant to stop them.

 

"His actions disgrace the IDF and all soldiers and his abuse of the public's trust hinders the military's image."

 

The court also ruled he be demoted back to the rank of private.

 

Attorneys Eyal Nun and Natanel Peretz, for the defendant, said they intend on appealing the verdict, on grounds that the two's commanding officers' conduct was not investigated.

 

"The commanding officers' responsibility for this failure was not probed… such constitutional failures may lead to the future assault or even abdication of soldiers. Soldiers stationed in the checkpoints are often sleep and food deprived, which may impair their judgment," said the defense.

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.25.09, 12:38
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