A revered army official who participated in an IDF delegation to the US has been indicted on charges of fraud for allegedly forging receipts for his family's English language lessons.
The non-commissioned officer, a sergeant-major by rank, is charged with forging 15 receipts for lessons for his wife and children between the years 2007-2009, while the family was living in Dallas as part of an acquisitions party sent by the IDF.
The defendant has previously received praise for his lengthy service from the IDF chief of staff and the defense minister.
Military police say the man conveyed the receipts to the Defense Ministry over the course of his two-year stay in Texas, each of which was worth a few thousand dollars. Altogether over $40,000 were transferred to his account.
Police also claim an Israeli woman who received some of the money directly to her account for providing the teaching services handed the man blank checks with which he could withdraw the cash.
Suspicions against him were raised when army officials discovered that during some of the dates he named on the receipts, the teacher was actually in Israel.
The officer has been suspended and is currently awaiting a decision on his case. His attorney, Guy Planter, says the indictment will be altered. "We are negotiating with the military prosecution in an attempt to reach an agreement and we hope this is what will happen," he said.