The Wall Street Journal revealed new details about the investigation into Rabbi Zvi Kogan's murder and ties it to a kidnapping gone awry.
According to the report, Rabbi Kogan left his home that morning to attend a dentist’s appointment but disappeared shortly after. His wife, Rivky, grew concerned when she did not hear from him and reached out to the Jewish community, who subsequently notified the authorities.
A source close to the investigation disclosed that Rabbi Kogan was abducted by the assailants, who drove him toward the border with Oman. However, something went wrong during the abduction attempt, leading to the murder of the rabbi near the border area.
Family and friends of Rabbi Kogan have expressed uncertainty about the precise circumstances of his death. Last week, the UAE Ministry of the Interior released photographs of the suspects involved in the crime.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Olembay Toyirovich, 28, Mahmoud Abd Rahim, 28, and Azizet Kamalovich, 33, all of whom were born in Uzbekistan. If convicted under Emirati law, the three could face the death penalty by firing squad.
Reports from Kan indicate that while the murder is believed to be the work of a terrorist organization, it remains unclear whether the perpetrators had any backing from Iran. Iran has vehemently denied any involvement in the crime and rejected UAE claims linking it to the murder.