Australian Soldier Admits Stealing Rocket Launchers

Looks like even a career military man could have a price. Look at what this disgrace did in Australia.

Hopefully he gets a long strtech to think about his perfidy.

Soldier admits stealing launchers

A JOINT Commonwealth-State anti-terrorism inquiry into the sale of rocket launchers, grenades and other military hardware, possibly to terrorist elements, has claimed a big scalp with a military ordnance expert pleading guilty to a charge of stealing and 10 counts of possessing prohibited weapons.

Shane Malcolm Della-Vedova, 46, who has served 27 years in the army and this year was promoted from warrant officer to captain, had extensive experience in the use of explosives and military ordnance, according to a police statement tendered to the Central Local Court yesterday.

The statement also said Della-Vedova had contacts with Afghanistan and was planning to travel there in the near future to take up employment.

On June 8, 2001, Della-Vedova was serving in the "Myambat" Logistics Company based at an ammunition facility at Orchard Hills, near Penrith, when he was ordered to destroy 66-millimetre anti-armour rocket-launchers, but instead informed a relative that they were available for sale. He also offered grenades, bullet-proof vests, night-vision goggles and other military items.

It was alleged that the relative told a man - now codenamed "Harrington" - that he could supply him with rocket-launchers, and that a deal was then made with Della-Vedova to make those launchers available. The relative is alleged to have supplied Harrington with a rocket-launcher and two or three hand grenades.

Harrington is alleged to have made contact with another man, Taha Abdul-Rahman, on September 30, 2003, and to have sold him a rocket-launcher for $12,000. On October 9 the same year, Harrington acquired seven more rocket-launchers and sold them to Abdul-Rahman for $10,000 to $12,000 each.

Two weeks later, according to the police statement, Harrington met Della-Vedova and paid him a total of $60,000. Harrington kept $10,000 for himself.

On September 30 last year, a rocket-launcher was sold to a man who was working undercover for police. Police have alleged that the rocket-launcher was one of those originally stolen by Della-Vedova.

More at the Daily Telegraph.