IAF chief: Rape won't be swept under rug
Air force Chief Shakedi pledges that probe into rape scandal involving sexual assault of young teenage girl by dozens of soldiers at southern base will be intensive, thorough. This is a terrible case, he says
In his first public statement on the rape affair, that involved a young teenage girl who had been sexually assaulted for a long period of time by dozens of soldiers at the base, Shakedi stressed the army had no intention of "sweeping under the rug" the suspicions against the men implicated with the abuse.
"This is a terrible case. I say this as a person, as the IAF's father and as a civilian. A lot of questions beg answer here, including, for instance, how it is possible for a girl to get into such a situation, and how come so many soldiers took part in this. We are now trying to figure out what exactly happened," Shakedi explained.
The commander said he had already spoken with senior officers in the air force, and with the commanders of all IAF bases. In the coming weeks, Shaekdi said, he plans to speak to other levels of the corps as well.
Three weeks ago after a publication ban was lifted at Ynet's request, it has been revealed that dozens of soldiers at a southern IAF base are suspected of raping and committing other sexual offences against a 14-year-old girl.
The alleged crimes were apparently committed for over a year and started when the girl was 13. Dozens of suspects were questioned over the shocking affair in recent weeks by Military Police and Israel Police investigators.
