Mascotta. Cut a deal
Photo: Yaron Brener
Soldier admits he stole Ashkenazi's credit card
Charges against Cpl. Louis Mascotta reduced after admission to two counts of weapons theft
The Jaffa military court on Sunday received an amended indictment in the case of Corporal Louis Mascotta, who admitted to two counts of weapons theft as well as stealing the IDF chief of staff's credit card.
The new indictment omits charges of the intended robbery of an additional weapon as well as making use of Gabi Ashkenazi's card, though he is still charged with passing on its details to an Israeli-Arab, who used it to purchase goods worth hundreds of dollars.
Off To Prison?
Prosecution to seek 'two-digit prison term' for soldier charged with stealing Ashkenazi's credit card
The prosecution also agreed to reduce charges on the theft of a Civil War-era handgun Mascotta allegedly took from the chief of staff's office, because it was incapable of firing. The weapon was allegedly sold to the same Israeli-Arab for $1,000.
The defendant continues to claim that he committed the acts under threat, in order to erase mounting debts. Though the military prosecution is seeking a lengthy prison term, Mascotta's attorney says he will summon expert witnesses in order to get the sentence reduced, including a military mental health professional.
Attorney Idan Pesach says the charges on the indictment had been reduced, which required the sentence to be subsequently reduced as well.
"The defendant saved the court a lot of time by admitting to the charges upon the summoning of 60 witnesses for the prosecution. The last word in the affair has not yet been said and we will present our stance in the coming hearings," he said.
