Col. Avi Blot
Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office
Senior officer to face disciplinary action over stolen documents
CID investigation finds Commando Brigade Commander Col. Avi Blot was unaware he was leaving classified documents in his car, leading Military Advocate General to decide not to prosecute him.
Commando Brigade Commander Col. Avi Blot will face disciplinary action in the IDF after military documents were stolen from his car, Military Advocate General Brig. Gen. Sharon Afek decided Tuesday.
Afek's decision comes after an inquiry by the IDF's Criminal Investigation Division (CID) found the officer took his gun and encrypted cellphone out of his bag, but was unaware he was leaving classified documents in the car.
Since Blot didn't knowingly leave the documents in his car, and in light of the content of the stolen documents, Afek decided not to prosecute the Commando Brigade chief, and he will instead face disciplinary action, which will be handed down by the GOC Central Command Maj. Gen. Nadav Padan.
Col. Avi Blot (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office)
Blot's car break-in happened some two weeks ago during a trip for the brigade's commanders in the West Bank.
Blot has been commanding the Oz Brigade, nicknamed the "Commando Brigade," for a little under a year.
He previously served as the commander of the Paratroopers Brigade's 101st Battalion and was wounded during Operation Cast Lead. He was then appointed the commander of the Maglan Special Forces unit and later the commander of the Hebron Brigade, before being put in charge of the Commando Brigade.
Chief Military Defense Col. Ran Cohen, who represents Blot, welcomed Afek's decision. "I'm confident Col. Blot's many years of contribution to state security as a fighter and commander will be taken into consideration in the disciplinary process as well, and that he will then continue making significant contributions with his service."
