Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi
Photo: Yaron Brener
Cleared for publication: The senior IDF officer who found himself reluctantly involved in the latest botched security scandal at a military base in Tel Aviv is none other than IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi.
The Military Appellate Court in Tel Aviv granted a motion filed by Ynet Sunday and cleared for publication that is was Ashkenazi's credit card information that was stolen and used by a group of illegal arms dealers. Many of the details in the case are still restricted by a gag order.
Case History
Hanan Greenberg
Military suspects soldier who obtained confidential details of credit card belonging to high-ranking officer revealed them to Arab he sold assault rifles to; Arab allegedly went on NIS 2,000 shopping spree at officer's expense
The investigation also revealed that the suspect had somehow obtained Ashkenazi's credit card information and relayed it to his contact and several other individuals, who charges NIS 2,000 ($about 530) to the card.
According to the case file, it was a retailer who noticed the unusual activity on the card and reported it to the authorities.
Investigators further found that the gun was also among the possessions stolen from Ashkenazi's office. While the gun was apparently not in use, it was not reported stolen – as far as the inquest was able to ascertain. Its whereabouts are still unknown.