Officers culpable in soldier's death

Duvdevan St.-Sgt. Roi Dror died in June 2002 of dehydration during an exercise.

hammer 88 (photo credit: )
hammer 88
(photo credit: )
A military court is expected to convene to sentence the five IDF officers who admitted late Wednesday that their actions had led to the death three years ago of St.-Sgt. Roi Dror during an exercise in the North, Israel Radio reported. Dror, a member of the elite Duvdevan unit, collapsed after climbing to the top of the Arbel cliff following a two-day exercise. A military court indicted the five officers in March 2004 on charges of death by negligence and failing to adhere to security regulations during the June 2002 drill. According to the charge sheet, the officers were negligent in preparing the soldiers for the exercise. They did not allow the soldiers enough time to rest or drink, and also failed to adhere to security regulations. The indicted officers include Col. Nadav Padan, who was a Duvdevan commander at the time of the accident, and Lt.-Col. Eran, the Nahshon Battalion commander, who was his deputy at the time. The other three were a captain in charge of the training exercise and the commanders of two squads participating in the exercise, including Dror's commander. The two squad commanders were also charged with overstepping their authority to the point of endangering lives.