KUALA LUMPUR: A local married couple and a man have been detained in connection with a suspected Israeli intelligence agent who was arrested at a hotel in Jalan Ampang here recently.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed that the couple, aged 42 and 40, were detained at a Ramadan bazaar in Kuala Selangor at about 7.15pm on Friday for allegedly supplying firearms to the Israeli man, who was found with six pistols and 200 live bullets when he was arrested by a team from Bukit Aman and Kuala Lumpur CID.
A source said the suspects led police to their home in Kuala Selangor, where they seized another pistol kept in a sling bag.
The couple’s main task is believed to be supplying the 36-year-old Israeli with firearms and fulfilling logistical needs.
“So far, investigations have revealed that both suspects were the go-to individuals for the Israeli suspect in terms of acquiring weapons.
“The police are investigating further if they had provided the Israeli with other assistance,” the source said.
The lone man detained by police is a local from Cameron Highlands, Pahang, who is believed to be the driver for the Israeli.
“Investigators will be able to track the Israeli suspect’s movement based on information obtained from the driver.
“The police are also further checking the role of the driver and the places where he frequented,” the source said.
Sources said investigators are trying to ascertain if the Israeli was acting alone or had fellow countrymen here as accomplices.
In a pre-emptive move, checkpoints in the country are on full alert to look out for suspicious individuals who might be linked to the suspect and are attempting a hasty exit.
Razarudin said Bukit Aman, through the CID, is investigating the motive of the Israeli, including determining why he possessed such a large arsenal.
The guns, which included a Sig Sauer, two Glocks and a Smith & Wesson, were found in bags belonging to the suspect in his hotel room.
“Three of the guns were loaded with bullets when they were found.
“Questions arise as to why the suspect needed that many pistols and bullets, when in fact he claimed to have come to Malaysia to kill another Israeli citizen over a personal dispute.
“For the time being, our investigation is focused on the suspect’s motive. But we are also not ruling out the possibility that the suspect has another agenda, such as targeting the country’s leaders and other prominent individuals. This is the main gist of our investigation,” Razarudin said when contacted yesterday.
“We believe the couple obtained the pistols from a neighbouring country before selling them to the suspect using cryptocurrency.
“We are also identifying the reason for the couple possessing another pistol,” he said.
Overall, seven pistols were seized in the course of the investigation, and the police are investigating the possibility that the Israeli is an intelligence agent.
“With the situation in Palestine and Israel, we need to be cautious about the security of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as well as other dignitaries,” Razarudin told reporters on Friday.
“Based on our checks, the man entered using a French passport. Upon further investigation, the suspect handed over an Israeli passport.
“Our investigations revealed the suspect had stayed in several hotels before he was caught,” he said, adding that the suspect entered Malaysia on March 12 via a flight from the United Arab Emirates.
