Cops seize m-bike used in Palestinian’s murder

Easier access for pressmen: Mohamad Fuzi (hand raised) officially opening the new media centre for the 14th General Election which will be stationed at the Selangor police headquarters in Shah Alam. Among the top officers present at the event were Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Mazlan Mansor (second from right) and Bukit Aman’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh (right).

SHAH ALAM: A high-powered motorcycle believed to have been used by the two assassins to kill Palestinian lecturer Dr Fadi Albatsh has been found by the police.

The vehicle was found in Danau Kota, Setapak, some 2km from the scene of the crime.

“We have seized the vehicle,” Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun told a press conference at the Selangor police headquarters here yesterday.

He said police have also detained an Arabic-speaking man who is believed to have spread accusations that the police had arrived late at the scene of the crime.

“We will decide on which law to investigate him. We may use the Anti-Fake News Act,” he added.

Mohamad Fuzi said more people had come forward to assist in the investigations.

He added that the police were working with several agencies, including the Immigration Department, to track down the suspects.

“We have tightened security along our national borders. It might be a problem if the suspects used illegal means to leave the country,” he said.

Dr Fadi, 35, was shot dead while walking to the mosque from his condominium near Jalan Meranti in Setapak on Saturday.

Dr Fadi, who was a Hamas member, had been living in Malaysia with his wife and three children for 10 years.

Palestine’s Hamas militant wing has accused Israel of being behind the killing.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the forensic report on Dr Fadi will be handed over to the police.

“It is up to the police whether to make the report public or reveal any information on the findings,” Dr Subramaniam told reporters at the opening of the National Cancer Institute by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya.

Members of the press waited outside the Selayang Hospital mortuary, where Dr Fadi’s body was kept, following talk that his remains would be released to his family yesterday.

Several foreigners believed to be relatives and friends of the deceased were seen entering the mortuary at about 3pm. They refused to speak to the journalists.

Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia Datuk Dr Anwar H Al Agha said the repatriation of the remains of Dr Fadi to his home country was expected to be done within 24 hours.

“I’ve started (Monday) communicating with different parties in Egypt through the Egyptian embassy in Kuala Lumpur, as well as through our Palestine embassy in Cairo.

“They told me that they are in the midst of the process and I am sure they are certain of the procedures and regulations involved,” Bernama quoted him as saying.