Israeli ‘spy’ to be charged tomorrow, says IGP

KUALA LUMPUR: The Israeli man caught at a hotel here with six guns and over 200 bullets will be charged in court on Friday.

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the man will be brought to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to face charges.

On Monday (April 8), Razarudin was quoted as saying that the Israeli was expected to be charged in court this week.

He added that police are continuing the investigation and gathering more information.

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“We are investigating the man’s real motive for possessing the six firearms. So, maybe charges will be brought against the Israeli man this week after Raya,” he said.

A total of 16 individuals have been detained in connection with the arrest of the Israeli man identified as Shalom Avitan and the seizure of six pistols at a hotel in Jalan Ampang so far.

In the latest development, police detained 12 other individuals after investigating 38-year-old Avitan, a local married couple aged 42 and 40 who sold the pistols to Avitan and another man who was Avitan’s driver.

The latest suspects were detained at various premises in Johor and Kuala Lumpur, based on intelligence gathered and information from the public.

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An investigation by the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) also contributed to the successful arrests as some of the suspects dealt in cryptocurrency.

It was reported that the police were looking to uncover the real reason why suspected Israeli spy Avitan came to the country.

Police are taking into account the fact he had entered Malaysia during Ramadan and could have been planning an attack during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive period.

On the excuse given by Avitan – that he wanted to hunt down a leader of a rival crime family – Razarudin said that this cannot be accepted easily.

“As I have pointed out, the suspect could be a threat to our leaders, foreign diplomats and even Hamas leaders,” he said.