Police hunting for more suspects in 'Israeli assassin' case
Published on: Tuesday, April 02, 2024
By: FMT
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said more than 23 witnesses had given their statements.
PETALING JAYA: Police are actively pursuing other suspects who may be involved with an Israeli man arrested last week, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said.
He said police were looking for two or more people as they continued their investigation into why the Israeli national was in Malaysia.
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He said at a press conference here that the suspects – locals and foreign nationals – were wanted in relation to firearms possession.
He said more than 23 witnesses had given their statements.
Last week, police arrested a 36-year-old Israeli man at a hotel in Jalan Ampang and confiscated six firearms along with 200 rounds of ammunition.
Israeli media have identified the suspect as Shalom Avitan, who is reportedly associated with the Musli brothers crime family.
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Avitan is supposedly in Malaysia to target the leader of a rival family.
The IGP later confirmed that three Malaysians were arrested on Friday due to suspected links to Avitan.
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They comprised a couple suspected of selling firearms to Avitan and a man believed to have acted as his driver.
Police are also looking into the possibility that Avitan is in fact an Israeli agent, and that he is not acting alone.
Razarudin said the suspect claimed to have bought all the firearms – including a Sig Sauer, Glock 27, and Smith and Wesson pistols – during his stay in Malaysia.
Razarudin also said the suspect entered the country with a French passport, but surrendered his Israeli passport during interrogation.
Yesterday, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the suspect had entered the country using a legitimate French passport and that there was no question of security lapses at national entry points.
However, Razarudin admitted that there were possible gaps that could allow firearms or other contraband into Malaysia.
He said police would continue to strengthen the country’s entry points to ensure the borders remained secure.
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