An officer in the Egoz unit was questioned last week on suspicion of a serious security violation, after military equipment, including a vest, cartridges, and a tiny, classified radio, was stolen from his vehicle.
According to a report today (Sunday) on Channel 2, the officer was previously released from operational activity in the Gaza Strip following a non-operational injury, and remained at home to receive medical treatment.
After the officer discovered that the military equipment had been stolen from his vehicle, he contacted the police and filed a complaint about the incident.
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However, following the filing of the complaint, a criminal investigation was opened against him by the investigating military police, on suspicion of harming state security.
This is a security offense for which the maximum penalty under the law may be up to ten years in prison.
According to the report on Network B, the officer was surprised by the fact that the incident was turned into a criminal investigation and by the seriousness of the security suspicion attributed to him by the investigators.
At a certain stage of the investigation, there was even a real possibility that serious charges would be filed against him at the end of the proceedings.
Only after a discussion between parties involved in the case and the investigating unit, it appears that the officer's case is expected to ultimately be resolved within a military disciplinary framework and not in a criminal proceeding.
The IDF said in response to the incident: "Following the incident, an investigation by the investigating military police was opened, and upon completion, its findings will be forwarded to the military prosecutor's office for review. Naturally, we cannot provide details regarding an ongoing investigation.".
""We emphasize that the risk to state security created by the loss of the sensitive radio was taken into account and reflected in the conduct of the investigation.""
