Open MPCID File or Investigation After Discharge: What to Do
The MPCID file is still open, or you were summoned after discharge: what now?
The MPCID investigation has ended, and the phone is silent. Weeks or months have passed and nobody says whether the file was closed. Or the situation is the reverse: you were discharged, went back to your life, and suddenly a summons arrives about something that happened during your service. In both cases people ask me the same question: where does it stand, and what can be done?
I am Adv. and Notary Emanuel Trach, with 15 years of experience. I served in the MPCID Central Unit for Special Investigations and worked as a lawyer in the criminal-administrative department of the Shin Bet. I represent soldiers, career service members, reservists and discharged soldiers before the MPCID, before the Military Prosecution and in the military court.
What happens to the file after the investigation
When the investigation ends, the file moves to evaluation by the Military Prosecution and the relevant officials in the unit. There are usually three possible outcomes.
The file can be closed, on grounds such as lack of evidence, lack of guilt or no public interest. The difference between the grounds matters, because it affects what appears later in life. The file can also move to a disciplinary proceeding in the unit, when the seriousness calls for a disciplinary rather than a criminal penalty. And it can lead to an indictment in the military court, when there is evidence and the seriousness justifies it. In certain circumstances it is also customary to end a case with an arrangement, in accordance with the Military Prosecution’s guidelines.
Why an open file is not just waiting
As long as no decision has been made, it can be influenced. You can approach the prosecution in writing, present material that has not been examined, point to difficulties in the evidence, and ask that the file be closed or moved to a lighter track.
For offenses at the felony level, the Chief Military Prosecutor’s guidelines generally provide a right to be heard before a decision to file an indictment. I come to such a hearing with the arguments in writing, with material that supports them, and with an understanding of what the prosecution already knows. Someone who comes unprepared gets an hour in which they can speak, and usually does not make use of it.
Before an indictment, the scope of access to the investigation material is more limited. Once an indictment has been filed, the defendant is entitled to review the material, and different work begins: examining what the investigators did and what they did not do.
Investigation after discharge
A person who has been discharged has not necessarily finished with the army. The Military Justice Law applies to someone who was a soldier at the time of the offense, so you can receive a summons even after discharge and, in certain circumstances, be brought to trial in a military court.
A reservist is subject to the Military Justice Law during reserve service. A career service member who has retired may be involved in an investigation into acts from the period of service. And someone discharged years ago may find that the file was opened only now, for example after someone else implicated them in a different investigation.
A military file does not stay in the army. It sometimes affects a security clearance, hiring, and a professional record, so it is worth dealing with early rather than waiting to see what happens.
What can be done
- Find out the status of the file and who makes the decision.
- Gather and present material that may have an effect, such as defense evidence, documents and witnesses.
- Ask to be heard before a decision, in writing or orally.
- If an indictment has been filed, prepare for the proceeding in the military court.
- If the file was closed, check the wording of the decision and, where necessary, ask to correct the records.
What I cannot promise
No lawyer can promise that a file will be closed. What can be done is to understand the situation and act in time, because many options close once the decision has been made.
You can read more about MPCID investigations, about representation in the military court and about a military lawyer. If investigators came to search your home, see searches of your home and phone.
For the military process as a whole, from investigation to the court, see military defense and the military court.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take for a decision to be made in an MPCID case?
There is no fixed time. It depends on the seriousness of the offense, the workload and the complexity of the file. If a long time has passed, you can reach out and ask.
Can I improve the chances that the case is closed?
Sometimes. A reasoned approach to the prosecution, with material that has not been examined, can make a difference.
I was discharged from the army. Can I still be summoned for investigation?
Yes, if the alleged offense was committed while you were a soldier. In certain circumstances you can also be tried in a military court.
What is the difference between closing a case for lack of evidence and closing it for lack of guilt?
They carry a different meaning later in life. Details are in the guide on MPCID investigations.
Is it worth consulting a lawyer even if everything seems calm?
Yes. While no decision has been made it is still possible to influence it, and once it has been made it is much harder.
Can a reservist be tried in a military court?
Yes, for offenses committed during reserve service, in accordance with the Military Justice Law.
The information on this page is general and does not constitute legal advice for a specific case. Last updated: 30.10.2026.
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