A year after an ancient gun was stolen from the secretariat of the military's High Command, and weeks after it was mysteriously returned, the Military Police decided to summon dozens of soldiers for a polygraph test, including Corporal Louis Maskota, who was accused of stealing the gun and trying to sell it to an Israeli Arab.
The collector's item was taken from its place, very close to the hall leading to Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi's bureau.According to estimates, it was returned the day it was found – almost a year later.
In recent days the Military Police decided to subpoena a few dozen soldiers who have access to the secretariat located on the 14th floor, most of which are serving in administrative positions such as clerks, drivers and general employees, and a few in more senior positions including security officers.
Maskota, who is accused of removing the gun and selling it for NIS 4,000 (about $1,050) to and Israeli Arab from Kfar Saba (the transaction was later canceled, after the buyer realized the weapon didn't work), was also called to take the lie detector test.
The defendant, who is held at Rimonim Prison and is waiting for his trial to end, claimed during his investigation that he did not know who returned the gun and denied all connection to the case. Maskota also said he was willing to undergo a poligraph test.
As of now, the tests' results did not shed new light on the investigation. "The probe is thorough and will eventually bring results," said a source who is familiar with the case.
The source did not comment on the possibility that the security cameras placed on the floor detected any suspicious activity. "This is not a breach in security, but it is important to investigate this affair," he said