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Mafioso arrested for threatening Israeli cop in Thailand
Main suspect from Ramla is expected to be indicted after investigation finds series of online threats and slanderous comments against a police rep in Thailand, allegedly due to his involvement in arrest of murder suspect in country; police say it's the 'crossing of a red line.'
A member of a crime organization in southern Israel has recently been arrested on suspicion of threatening an Israel Police representative in Thailand.
The Israel Police, aided by the Interpol, conducted an investigation over the last month following a series of threats and slanderous comments on social media and other websites against the Israel Police's representative in Thailand, Deputy Commissioner Yoni Hajaj.
The reason behind the threats and slander was reportedly the belief Hajaj was involved in the arrest of a murder suspect in Thailand.
Among other things, the suspect wrote online posts with explicit threats to the officer and his children, uploaded photos of Hajaj with a superimposed gun shooting a bullet at his head, and the publication of false stories in which the suspect planted slander against the officer.
These online publications were also sent to Israel's consulate in Thailand and the local Chabad rabbi as well as to lawyers and businessmen.
In light of these threats, Hajaj was put under tight security.
During the investigation, Michal Zaguri, the wife of southern crime boss Yaniv Zaguri, was arrested on suspicion of spreading the slanderous and threatening content. She was later released.
A week ago, the Central Unit's detectives arrested five suspects, three of them residents of Be'er Sheva and two others residents of central Israel, who are linked to the southern crime organization. Four of them have since been released under restrictions.
Police were able to establish an evidentiary basis against the main suspect, a resident of Ramla. A prosecutor's statement was filed against him on Thursday and on Sunday he is expected to be indicted.
The investigation is still ongoing and police are expected to make more arrests in Israel, Thailand and other countries.
"The Israel Police views threats and slander against police officers, in an effort to stop them from doing their job, to be the crossing of a red line," the police said in a statement.
