At least one soldier and a number of other individuals are suspected of using the details of credit card belonging to a senior IDF figure in order to conduct thousands of shekels worth of transactions, it was cleared for publication on Thursday.
The affair was exposed during a joint investigation conducted by the army and Israel Police into the disappearance of two M-16 assault rifles and a pistol from an IDF base. A number of suspects were arrested a few days ago, including a low-ranking soldier who serves at the base and his brother, who is a minor. The brothers are suspected of selling the weapons to an Arab for NIS 18,000 ($4,640).
Investigators were shocked to discover that the soldier was in possession of the confidential details of a credit card belonging to a senior IDF officer, who was immediately informed of the development. The probe revealed that the credit card was in fact used to conduct transactions worth at least NIS 2,000 ($515).
Suspected soldier on way to court (Photo: Dudi Azoulay)
On Thursday the military court in Jaffa agreed to partially lift the gag order on the affair, but determined that the senior officer's identity would not be revealed as of yet.
Investigators are also looking into the possibility that the officer's credit card details were revealed to additional soldiers, and perhaps even to the Arab who had purchased the rifles and pistol. They are checking to see whether the Arab was the one who went on the shopping spree at the officer's expense.
During his interrogation the soldier said he gave the rifles to the Arab after being threatened, and denied using the credit card details for his own personal use.
His remand was extended by six days, while an indictment was filed against his brother with the Tel Aviv District Court.
The two rifles were eventually found and returned to the IDF. The pistol is still missing.
The affair raises some serious questions regarding the accessibility of sensitive information to low-ranking army personnel.
The suspect's attorney, Idan Pesach, said his client was "extorted by external elements and was allegedly forced to commit certain acts."