The State Prosecutor's Office today (Monday) filed an indictment in the Beersheba District Court against Ahmad Abu Marihil (36) and his brother Odeh Abu Marihil (30) from Bir Hadaj after they broke into a bunker at the Tze'elim base and stole 26,16 M-<> bullets from him earlier this month.
The indictment indicates that the defendants observed an IDF base in order to break into it and collected information about the security arrangements and places from which they should penetrate it. Later, the two returned armed with tools, gloves and face masks. While Odeh was guarding outside from the arrival of the forces, Ahmad broke into the base and began walking around the buildings and bunker. After identifying a vehicle parked in the bunker area, Ahmad left the base, hiding the openings so that they would not discover the break-in and to make it easier for them to break in another breach that occurred a few days later.
A report was received this morning about the theft of ammunition from a military bunker at an IDF base in southern Israel.
A joint investigation has been opened by the Israel Police and the Military Police
— Israel Defense Forces (@idfonline) June 6, 2023
Tze'elim Base (archive), photo: IDF Spokesperson
A few days later, after the two returned to the base, and while Odeh waited in the car, Ahmad managed to enter the base again through the two openings already in the fences and even cut through the fence surrounding the bunker. Ahmad then broke down the bunker door and began taking out crates of ammunition. Ahmad stayed at the base for about four hours, and at one point Odeh also entered the base and moved several boxes of ammunition outside. In total, the two took 24 boxes of ammunition containing about 26,<> rounds of ammunition.
After the defendant finished removing the boxes of ammunition from the bunker, he put the bunker door back on its hinges and closed the three openings - all in order to prevent the discovery of the break-in and the theft of ammunition. About two days after the incident, the two were arrested by the police.
Arrest of suspect in break-in at Nevatim Air Force Base
The request for remand until the end of the proceedings stated: "The actions of the respondents indicate that they do not shy away from anything in order to realize their wishes and needs and their great danger to human security, public safety and even state security."
Both defendants were charged with entering a military place, damaging property, burglary with intent to commit theft or a crime, burglary for the purpose of committing a crime, offenses with a weapon (carrying and transporting), and using a vehicle to commit a crime. Odeh was also charged with obstruction of justice after he tried to flee from the police and threw away his mobile phone. Ahmad was also charged with weapons offenses (possession) after crates of stolen ammunition were found in his possession.
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