A military court on Tuesday accepted the plea of two military police operatives whose informant, Cpl. Niv Lubaton, died by suicide in 2019, and was sentenced to community service.
Two soldiers, Staff Sgt. “Alef” and Staff Sergeant “Gimel” – identified only by his first initials in Hebrew – attempted to recruit Lübton in January to provide information on drug-dealing at the army’s Bisla base in southern Israel, which Was on a squad commander training course. 2019. Lubton initially agreed, but recalled his handlers an hour and a half later, saying he would not do it and indicating he intended to harm himself.
According to an indictment filed against the pair in September 2019, they never reported this to their commanders, as they were required to do, even though Lyubeton had gone missing from their base. He was found dead soon after.
He was charged with making a false statement, failing to obey orders, and conduct unbecoming a soldier for not reporting to his commanders that Loughton had indicated to them that he intended to harm himself.
The Supreme Court in March 2022 rejected an appeal on behalf of Lubton’s parents, who claimed that the charges against the two military police operatives were too lenient. The court said it cannot interfere with the decision of the military counsel.
On Tuesday, two staff sergeants were given three months’ community service and a suspended prison sentence in a plea deal, and will be demoted to the rank of private.
The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that the military court “examined in depth the circumstances of the crimes, all relevant facts and the unique sentencing considerations in this case”. noted. After examining all considerations, the court determined that the plea agreement should be honored.”
The IDF said it was in close contact with Lübton’s family during the trial. The army said, “The IDF joins in the deep sorrow of the Lubtan family and will continue to support them.”
Five officers received official reprimands in the incident – the commander of the Southern Division of the Military Police Investigation Unit, the commander of the Beersheba Station of the Military Police Investigation Unit, and three of Lubaton’s direct commanders in their squad leaders’ courses – for their failures during the searches. for after his disappearance.
Major Gilad Franco. (Courtesy / IDF Military Police)
Major Gilad Franco, commanding officer of the Beersheba station of the military police investigation unit, was removed from his position by then-IDF chief Aviv Kohavi in May 2020, but reinstated last year after an appeal to the Supreme Court.
