Yigal Ben-Ami. (photo credit: IDF)
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The Commander of the IDF’s Kirya Military Headquarters Col. Yigal Ben-Ami is under investigation on suspicion of bribery and other offenses.
On Thursday the IDF confirmed that Ben-Ami, who served as commander of the army headquarters for the past three years was under investigation for “breach of trust and violating military orders” and said that upon completion of the investigation its findings will be examined by the Judge Advocate General’s Office.
As a result of the ongoing investigation Ben-Ami was put on leave and asked to move up his retirement from the IDF which was accepted, the IDF statement said. The military court has imposed a sweeping gag order on the case.
Ben-Ami has denied the allegations.
The military would not elaborate on the nature of his suspected crimes, but according to Hebrew media reports the suspicions relate to bribes tied to construction on the base as well as exceeding his authority and inappropriate behavior.
According to Walla! News, Ben-Ami has been under investigation by the Military Police for an extended period of time. The report said that the investigation saw the use of wiretapping and interrogation of several military officers in addition to several contractors.
Following the investigation Ben-Ami is said to be suspected of offenses which relate, among other things, to having ties to civilian companies who carried out construction projects at the base as well as using military vehicles for personal purposes as well as using soldiers to take care of his private affairs.
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“Whoever came to the Kirya in the past two years has noticed the momentum of construction that took place here,” Walla! quoted one senior officer who serves at the base in Tel Aviv as saying.
“The sidewalks have been replaced, roads and building have been renovated, electricity infrastructure has been built, the gardens have been rebuilt, and even the gates have been replaced and changed,” he was quoted as saying, adding that “no one believed how such things were managed within the military system.”
Col. Ran Cohen, the chief military advocate, and Col. (res.) Avi Amiram, who represent Ben-Ami, said in response that the officer is a “respected veteran commander who served in the IDF for 30 years with an impeccable record. He is in shock by the suspicions against him and denies them unequivocally. He is fully cooperating with the investigation, answering all questions in detail as well as providing evidence that contradicts the suspicions.”
The IDF published a tender yesterday to replace him, emphasizing that the job was needed to be filled immediately.
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