Israeli Mother and Daughter Sought in Namibia Mistakenly Identified
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Israeli mother and daughter Mali and Lial Yahalomi, who disappeared two months ago, were mistakenly reported arrested in Namibia. The arrested individuals were identified as Iranian, not the Yahalomis, who are now flying back to Israel from Athens. The confusion stemmed from the impostors claiming to be Israeli and possessing forged passports. The Yahalomis were reported missing from Vienna in August.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Mali and Lial Yahalomi were not arrested in Namibia as initially reported.
- The arrested individuals in Namibia were identified as an Iranian mother and daughter, not the Yahalomis.
- The Yahalomi mother and daughter are currently flying back to Israel from Athens, Greece.
- The mistaken identity in Namibia arose from the impostors claiming to be Israeli and using forged passports.
- Mali and Lial Yahalomi were declared missing from Vienna, Austria, in August.
Mali and Lial Yahalomi, the Israeli mother and daughter who disappeared two months ago and were later located in South America, were not arrested in Namibia as initially reported. The pair boarded a flight from Athens, Greece, on Wednesday, en route back to Israel, with an expected landing at Ben Gurion Airport around 3:30 PM. Initial reports overnight suggested their arrest in Namibia on suspicion of using forged passports. However, it was clarified that the arrested individuals were not the Yahalomis but likely an Iranian mother and daughter.
Rabbi Yosef Rahimi, the Chabad emissary in Namibia, recounted that he was informed by immigration authorities about the arrest of "two Israelis" and offered assistance, relaying the information to the consulate in South Africa. Upon visiting the police station, Rabbi Rahimi spoke with the detainees in Persian, confirming they were Iranian and not Israeli. He provided them with kosher food, fruits, and drinks.
The confusion arose because the arrested individuals, possessing non-Israeli forged passports, claimed to be Israeli during their interrogation. This claim, coupled with the surname "Yahalomi," likely led to the mistaken identification. An Israeli police representative in Africa and the Middle East contacted Namibian police, and after reviewing documents, identification, and photos of the detainees, the suspicion against the Yahalomis was completely removed. Police confirmed they were impostors and not the missing mother and daughter.
Mali and Lial Yahalomi were declared missing in Vienna, Austria, in August. Investigations revealed that Mali had meticulously planned their disappearance for over a year, withdrawing her pension funds to finance their journey to South America.
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