The suspect brought to court
Photo: Moran Maayan
Defense Attorney Tomer Naveh
Policeman accused of arms theft
Investigators, sappers find cache of improved weapons in suspect's home. Police checking whether he indented to sell arms or use them.
A Border Guard officer has been arrested on suspicion of stealing weapons from his unit. The Haifa Magistrate's Court on Friday extended the remand of the 21-year-old officer accused of storing a large amount of arms, including grenades and even an explosive device at a cache in his home.
Arms Trade
Naama Cohen-Friedman
Indictment filed against three defendants who received 10 M-16 rifles, machine gun and grenade launcher from soldier who smuggled items from army base. Fourth defendant coordinated NIS 230,000 weapons transaction with criminals
The department in charge of officer investigations at the Justice Ministry refused to go into detail regarding the circumstances for the investigation and arrest, but Ynet learned on Thursday that investigators and sappers arrived at the suspect's home in the nothern city of Kiryat Motzkin where they exposed over 10 grenades, an explosive device and other improvised weaponry.
The investigators are currently inspecting whether the suspect, serving as a Border Guard officer in the Ramallah area, is connected to criminal organizations or whether he had intended to sell the arms.
Following a deliberation at the Haifa Magistrate's Court, Judge Orit Kantor ruled that there is reasonable suspicion to believe the officer is guilty of the crime, but has not yet prohibited publishing his name and picture.
According to his Attorneys Tomer Naveh and Zion Shimon, "He is an appraised and brave officer who, for the first time in his life, finds himself behind bars. This situation is foreign to him and his family. We have yet to receive any indication as to the severity and involvement of our client in this case. As the investigation progresses we will be able to finalize our stance regarding these serious allegations."
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