Quote:Meanwhile, the governments of the UK and Ireland have confirmed that all of the newly revealed identities used in the operation were stolen from their citizens living in Israel, and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he expects "full Israeli cooperation" in the investigation.

Quote:Two of the Australians had travelled to Iran by ship in the planning stages of the operation.

Quote:Credit card data
Dubai Police have released credit card details used by 17 of the suspects to pay for hotels and tickets.
A total of 13 credit cards used were from the USA-based Meta Bank. When contacted by Gulf News, the bank declined to comment on the issue. Another two cards were from IDT Finance — Gibraltar (UK), while one was from the
Nationwide building society (UK) and one other was from DZ Bank AG (Germany).
The police also released the 17 credit card numbers and the names of the suspects who used these. The suspects’ names are: Eric Rassinerux, David Lapierre, Mark Sklar, Stephen Drake, Adam Korman, Graham Jonathan Louis, Paul John Keeley, James Leonard Clarke, Stephen Daniel Hodes, Daniel Schnur, Philip Carr, Roy Cannon, Joshua Daniel Bruce, Gale Folliard, Ana Shauan Clasby.
Fifteen of the cards used were Mastercard, while the other two were Visa.

Carsten Wiethoff Wrote:From http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/15-new-suspects-in-al-mabhouh-case-1.588300

Quote:Meanwhile, the governments of the UK and Ireland have confirmed that all of the newly revealed identities used in the operation were stolen from their citizens living in Israel, and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he expects "full Israeli cooperation" in the investigation.

Another interesting tidbit:

Quote:Two of the Australians had travelled to Iran by ship in the planning stages of the operation.

The credit cards used continue to show links to the US:

Quote:Credit card data
Dubai Police have released credit card details used by 17 of the suspects to pay for hotels and tickets.
A total of 13 credit cards used were from the USA-based Meta Bank. When contacted by Gulf News, the bank declined to comment on the issue. Another two cards were from IDT Finance — Gibraltar (UK), while one was from the
Nationwide building society (UK) and one other was from DZ Bank AG (Germany).
The police also released the 17 credit card numbers and the names of the suspects who used these. The suspects’ names are: Eric Rassinerux, David Lapierre, Mark Sklar, Stephen Drake, Adam Korman, Graham Jonathan Louis, Paul John Keeley, James Leonard Clarke, Stephen Daniel Hodes, Daniel Schnur, Philip Carr, Roy Cannon, Joshua Daniel Bruce, Gale Folliard, Ana Shauan Clasby.
Fifteen of the cards used were Mastercard, while the other two were Visa.

(from http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/new-suspects-include-3-australians-1.588329)

Regarding the prospects of justice being done in this case:
Of course the chances that any one of the suspects, let alone their masters will be captured, extradited and stand trial are practically zero. But having 26 agents publicly exposed does not happen every day to any secret organisation, and it will diminish the types of operations for which these people can be used in the future. Also the political costs continue to grow, mainly because of the fraudulent foreign passports used. I still hope there will come the point where Israel can no longer publicly deny being behind that all and that this might have some consequences inside Israel.

Carsten Wiethoff Wrote:There is a pattern here which makes any statement that Israel has nothing to do with it quite ridiculous. If that would be the case, Israel should be the most interested party to investigate the identity theft of their citizens. I do not hear anything pointing in that direction.

Quote:The Australian Federal Police, Australian Passport Office and spy agency ASIO have launched an investigation into the matter and Mr Smith demanded Israel’s co-operation.
‘‘If we didn’t receive that co-operation, then we would potentially draw adverse conclusions from that,’’ Mr Smith said of his conversation with the ambassador.
‘‘I made it crystal clear to the ambassador that if the results of that investigation cause us to come to the conclusion that the abuse of Australian passports was in any way sponsored or condoned by Israeli officials, then Australia would not regard that as the act of a friend.’’

Quote: Dubai money trail leads back to Israel

by Paul Woodward on February 24, 2010


Although the Israeli government has yet to confirm its role in the murder of Mahmoud al Mahbouh, the Dubai police have provided further evidence through financial records that connect the crime to Israel.
The company Payoneer Inc., based in New York, has been named in the case – a company that helps facilitate Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. Payoneer provides financial services for trip participants and as the Wall Street Journal reports, the company’s chief executive, Yuval Tal, is a former Israeli special-forces soldier.

Dubai police said Wednesday they had identified credit cards used by 14 of the suspects to book hotel rooms and pay for air travel. Police named the issuing bank as MetaBank, a unit of Meta Financial Group Inc., a financial company based in Storm Lake, Iowa.
The bank said it had no comment “because we are trying to confirm the accuracy of statements by the press.”
Dubai police identified cards issued by Britain’s Nationwide Building Society, IDT Finance of Gilbraltar, and Germany’s DZ Bank AG. A Nationwide spokesman told the Associated Press that bank officials were “investigating the reports and have no further comments.” The other European companies weren’t reachable late Wednesday.
Dubai also identified a company called Payoneer Inc., based in New York, though it wasn’t clear what precise role authorities believe that company played. In a chart released to reporters, authorities suggested the company distributed the cards on behalf of MetaBank.
According to its Web site, Payoneer offers online payment solutions, including arranging for employers to pay overseas workers through money transfers into prepaid MasterCard debit-card accounts. Payoneer is based in New York, but has offices in Tel Aviv.
The company’s chief executive, Yuval Tal, appeared as a commentator on the Lebanon war in 2006 on Fox News, identifying himself as a former Israeli special-forces soldier. Mr. Tal wasn’t available to comment.

Magda Hassan Wrote:What is the situation in the UK now that there are more UK passports holders identities being used? Has the FM escalated from pouting and foot stomping to holding his breath and sticking his fingers in his ears?