i24NEWS - Israel drone firm faces charge in said bombing of Armenian forces for Azerbaijan
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The State Attorney of Israel announced Wednesday that it has summoned an Israeli dronemaker to a pre-indictment hearing for its role in an alleged bombing of Armenian forces while conducting a demonstration of one of its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on behalf of Azerbaijan in fall of 2017.
“The letter of suspicion attributes to the company’s senior managers and suspected employees offenses of receiving fraudulently under aggravated circumstances and violates the Defense Export Control Law,” a statement from the State Attorney’s office said.
“The Defense Export Control Law was enacted about a decade ago, and its purpose is to protect Israel’s political and security ties from dangers of unauthorized exports of defense know-how and equipment,” it added.
CEO Amos Matan, deputy CEO Meir Rizmovitch, development director Haim Hivashar, and marketing director David Goldin are among the representatives of Aeronautics Defense Systems Ltd summoned to appear before the State Attorney’s Office’s Economics Division.
“We are convinced that after we first present our position at the hearing, the State Prosecutor’s Office will reach an informed decision that there is no reason to put the company or any of its officers in court and will order the case closed,” Aeronautics said in a statement responding to the hearing summonses.
Last year, a criminal investigation was opened into the defense systems firm for “a deal with a key client” that allegedly involved an attempted bombing of the Armenian military on behalf of Azerbaijan during a live demonstration of a kamikaze UAV, but a gag order was placed on many of the details.