news, court-and-crime,

THE army has refused to answer questions about employee security screening after a man was found with a cache of illegal weapons, including an allegedly stolen military rifle, days before starting work at a Border army barracks. Reece Spengler, 36, had been due to start work at a local army base this week, but was arrested after a raid at his Wodonga home. More than 20 guns, including a Steyr military rifle he allegedly stole from an army base, were seized. A sawn-off shotgun, shortened rifle, silencers, semi-automatic handgun, and other unregistered and stolen firearms were seized, along with various rounds of ammunition. The Border Mail asked the Defence Department to clarify how it screened applicants, why Spengler was not excluded from being hired and whether changes would be made to the recruitment process. A spokesman said “as this matter is being investigated by Victorian Police it would be inappropriate for Defence to comment”.

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