The recent murder of an Israeli man on Koh Samui on Sunday is being called a gangland revenge attack by Thai police, based on intelligence from the Israeli embassy.
Two Israeli suspects, Dolev Zuarez, 24, and Eyal Bokal, 26, are thought to be the culprits that hit the victim with an SUV before jumping out and stabbing him to death. They were arrested just five hours after Maor Mallil, 34, was murdered. They were apprehended at at Don Mueang Airport as they tried to flee the country after being seen on CCTV committing the act. They were sent back to Samui to face premeditated murder charges there.
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The recent murder of an Israeli man on Koh Samui on Sunday is being called a gangland revenge attack by Thai police based on intelligence from the Israeli embassy
The murder happened in the middle of the day in the Chaweng Beach area, a place popular with tourists. In the incident, the victim’s girlfriend, Israeli Rashel Oshana, was also injured, reported The Nation.
Police reported what they saw in the CCTV footage. They said that the SUV hit the motorcycle that Mallil and Oshana were riding. As the deceased tried to help with his girlfriend, the SUV reversed and ran him over again before the two suspects jumped out and stabbed Mallil several times before fleeing in the SUV.
The man was not pronounced dead until later at a hospital, where his girlfriend was being treated for serious injuries of an unknown nature.
Regional tourism police commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Angkoon Klaiklueng, revealed that, back in Israel, Mallil had served a jail term of 20 months for trying to run over and shoot the two men that eventually allegedly killed him. After he was released and went to Thailand, his former victims are believed to have followed him to exact revenge.
Police said that both men confessed and admitted their history with their victim.
Deputy tourism police commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachet Hakparn, said that the Israeli Embassy confirmed the two attackers as known Israeli mafia members of middle rank. He also said that the men are believed to be from a rival mafia family than their alleged victim.
The alleged attackers came to Thailand on Jan. 11 on 30-day tourist visas, they’d both visited the country before. It is believed that they immediately went to Koh Samui and followed their victim for about ten days before allegedly committing the crime.
If found guilty, they could face a jail term of up to 20 years or even a death sentence. Though death sentences are still handed out in the Thai justice system, one has not been carried out in the country since 2009. Those on death row usually live out their days out in prison.
