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One of the suspects
Photo: Moran Shavit

Armored Corps abuse case: Military court orders wider probe

Northern Command's Military Court orders inquest into severe abuse of 74th Battalion inductees be expanded to include higher ranking officers. Suspects remanded for additional eight days

The GOC Northern Command Court remanded the three Armored Corps commanders suspected of abusing their subordinates as part of a hazing ceremony to an additional eight days Tuesday.

 

Military Court President Colonel Erez Port ordered the Military Police to expand its investigation to include higher ranking officers in the 74th Battalion as well, after learning that the most senior officer investigated in the case so far, was a second lieutenant.

 

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The matter was exposed some 10 days ago, when a complaint alleging that several newly-inducted Armored Corps soldiers were subjected to sever abuse by their squad commanders as part of a hazing ceremony.

 

The Military Police have been deposing the soldiers who fell victim to the abuse, as well as several of the battalion's commanders and other base personnel.

 

The defense asked the court to order a wider investigation of the allegations against the three officers, saying that they should not by blamed for a norm which have been rooted in the battalion's traditions for years.

 

The defense also argued that the investigation should look into whether high-ranking officers within the 74th Battalion, which is part of the Armored Corps' 188 Brigade, knew that such hazing was ongoing.

 

While arresting three suspects in the case, the Military Police have also detained four other officers, including the company commander. There involvement is still under investigation, and it is unclear at this time whether they would be included in any future indictment.

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.28.09, 22:21
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