KUALA LUMPUR: Ten suspects detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) because of links to an Israeli "spy", will know their fate next month.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the remand period for seven of them will end on May 14, while the remainder will end on May 15.
"Before the end of the (remand) period, we will decide on three options: charge, release, or deport," he said during a press conference at the Cheras police headquarters here today.
He said all suspects were held in Kuala Lumpur.
Rusdi said one of the detained foreigners held a United States passport and entered the country as a tourist.
The 10 individuals were arrested late last month on suspicion of being linked to Israeli Shalom Avitan, who was charged with possessing bullets and trafficking in guns on April 12.
Rusdi said the 10, including three foreigners, were rearrested under Sosmam on April 19 after their remand under Section 7 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 expired on April 16 and April 18.
Avitan was detained at a hotel in Jalan Ampang here on Marcg 27 after being found in possession of six handguns, including a Glock 19 Marine, Glock 17 Gen 4, Smith and Wesson, Sig Sauer and Stoeger, as well as almost 200 rounds of ammunition.
Initial investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Special Branch found that Avitan, who entered the country on March 12 via a flight from the United Arab Emirates using a French passport, planned to kill the head of a rival criminal family.
Following inquiries into Avitan, police then arrested a husband and wife, at a Ramadan bazaar in Kuala Selangor on March 29. They were suspected of selling firearms to Avitan. Their arrest led to the discovery of another pistol in a sling bag in the couple's car.
The couple were charged with illegally possesing a firearm on April 11.
The special police team handling the case then detained more individuals in several raids in Johor, Kelantan and the Klang Valley.
All of them were being investigated for involvement in the distribution of seized firearms, cryptocurrency transactions for weapons purchases and related offences.