Manama: An Israeli officer has been arrested on suspicion of stealing laptop computers from activists aboard the Gaza-bound aid ship raided by Israeli commandos in May and selling them to other officers, Haaretz reported yesterday.
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The officer allegedly sold the computers to a friend, who in turn sold them to his friends. Three officers who are suspected of having bought the computers have also been detained for questioning.
The officer, who holds the rank of first lieutenant, allegedly stole between four and six computers from activists on the Mavi Marmara on its way to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinian under siege in Gaza Strip when Israel raided it, leaving nine Turkish activists dead.
Israeli navy boarded six ships that made up the Gaza-bound flotilla on May 31 to prevent them from delivering their aid.
"The investigation has just begun, but as it appears now it will prove embarrassing and shameful. These are soldiers who don't understand what their uniform represents," an officer said, quoted by Ynet.
The army spokesman's office said the military police had opened an investigation, but said it remains unclear if the computers were indeed stolen from the Mavi Marmara activists.
