Nabbed Israeli: Cops hunting several locals, foreign nationals

 

The police are tracking down “more than two” persons of interest - local and foreign nationals - believed to be related to the 37-year-old armed Israeli man who was arrested on March 27.

In a press conference today, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Razarudin Husain also said the remand against Shalom Avitan will be until Sunday (April 7) and did not deny the possibility of an extension to help with the police probe.

“In this investigation, we still have on our radar to catch more than two people (including foreign and locals),” he said at the national police headquarters in Bukit Aman today.

The top cop said the married couple, locals who allegedly smuggled the firearms from Thailand and provided them to the Israeli man, were also remanded until April 5 to help with the investigation.

He added that the police are reaching out to Interpol for further information and to ascertain whether the Israeli man had past criminal records.

“So far Interpol has not contacted us yet (to let us know) if the man is on red notice,” he said.

Probe ongoing despite confession

Razarudin reiterated that despite the confession made by the Israeli, the investigation is still open and the police are viewing the case from various perspectives.

Two days ago, Razarudin said Avitan had come to Malaysia on a mission to assassinate a rival mob boss named “Eran Haya”, believed to be in the country as well.

Razarudin said last Friday that the 36-year-old man is believed to have entered Malaysia through the United Arab Emirates on March 12 using a French passport.

The weapons seized included Sig Sauer, Glock-27, and Smith & Wesson pistols.

The case is being investigated under Section 12 of the Passport Act and Section 7 of the Firearms Act.

Following the arrest, police have beefed up security for Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and other VIPs, amid the country’s support for Palestine in the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza. - Mkini