KOH SAMUI — Thai immigration authorities have arrested an Israeli fugitive on Koh Samui who is wanted in his home country for armed robbery and burglary, officials said Monday.
The suspect, identified as Osher Farhi, 22, was detained after a joint operation between Surat Thani Immigration Police and local investigators, following a formal request from the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok.
Israeli authorities notified Thai officials that Farhi and two accomplices allegedly used firearms to threaten victims and break into a home in Israel before stealing valuables and fleeing the country.
Investigators later traced a stolen laptop believed to belong to one of the victims to Koh Samui, leading police to the island. Authorities also found that Farhi had a prior criminal record involving drug trafficking and violent offenses.
Immigration police located his registration at a hotel in Chaweng Beach, but he was not found there. Further checks revealed that Farhi had booked a flight to leave Thailand through Samui International Airport on November 2.
Officers set up surveillance at the airport and arrested him as he arrived by taxi. His visa was immediately revoked under the Immigration Act, and he was taken into custody.
Farhi is being held at Bo Phut Police Station pending coordination with the Israeli Embassy for his deportation to face prosecution in Israel.
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