Fed As army defends security, soldier is charged over guns

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2006
Fed As army defends security, soldier is charged over guns

MELBOURNE, Dec 15 AAP - An Australian soldier has been charged over the discovery of
military guns at homes in Victoria, as the army defended its record of weapon security.

The Victorian charges follow unrelated reports rocket launchers may have been sold
to criminal groups.

Police say they are investigating whether rogue members of the army are behind the
blackmarket sale of rocket launchers and guns to terrorist and criminal groups.

NSW Police have recovered only one of nine anti-tank weapons they suspect have been
stolen from the army, Fairfax newspapers reported today.

Counter terrorism police overseeing the operation fear the rocket launchers have been
sold for use in Australia.

Army chief Lieutenant General Peter Leahy said he could not confirm that weapons had
been stolen from the military's stockpile.

But he stressed that great care was taken to protect the weapons.

"We take a great amount of care for the security of our weapons, not only when they
are stored, but also when they are moved," he told ABC Radio.

"We have procedures that have been established and we're checking those procedures
right now and that's really all I can say."

However, in a separate incident, a 53-year-old army sergeant from Tooborac, near Victoria's
Puckapunyal army base, has been charged with dishonesty and firearms offences.

The charges were laid after the sergeant was found in possession of Australian Defence
Force (ADF) property, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

"Police have located a considerably quantity of weapons and ammunition in the ongoing
investigation," she said.

The spokeswoman said the weapons were discovered at addresses in the Seymour and Benalla
areas and police were conducting further searches.

A spokesman for the ADF refused to comment.

He said the ADF was conducting its own investigation into the matter.

The man was bailed by police to appear in court at a later date.

AAP mj/ksd/dk/sp/nf

KEYWORD: ROCKETS ARMY

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