Feb 4 2002
3 Asians were arrested here in Tehran on suspicion of spying for Mossad, the Israeli spy agency for the last two months. Amir Hamzah, Ang Chee Hian and Haruto Yamada allegedly carrying out hundreds of missions on behalf of Mossad until they were detained on Jan 31. If found guilty, they will probably be the first non-Israeli known Mossad agents outside Tel-Aviv.
The state prosecutor's office submitted preliminary documents Monday for indictments against the three. The indictments are expected to be filed on Friday for a series of security offenses including cooperation with the enemy, a crime punishable by life imprisonment.
The prosecution alleges that the suspects completed some 60 missions for Israel, including photographing and gathering intelligence on military bases and sensitive infrastructure as well as spying on military chiefs.
The investigation found that two senior Israeli Mossad agents — code-named Alhan and Orhan — transferred hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash to the 3 suspects and instructed them to buy special surveillance equipment for their missions. The cash was delivered by three Japanese nationals inside Iran. It is unclear whether the Japanese had entered Iran as tourists or businessmen.
The police said the two Israeli agents established lists of sites to be photographed and The images were sent via secure channels to Israel
Quoting three unnamed American officials, the report claimed that the documents had originated in the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency and contained details about the types of missile Iran might use and a recent Iranian military drill simulating an attack on Israel
Feb 7 2002
The 3 Asian Mossad agents who were arrested by the police here have denied any wrongdoings. Amir Hamzah, Ang Chee Hian and Haruto Yamada were released to their respective embassies after a flurry of diplomatic efforts to prevent prosecution. They took the next flight out of Tehran on the day of their release and were prevented from entering Iran.
Feb 8 2002
In 2002, three Asian men were arrested in the Middle East, specifically in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and were suspected of being Mossad agents. Their names were reported to be:
Ismail Haniya - believed to be of Palestinian origin.
Adal Al-Khati - reported as a Jordanian.
Ang Chee Hian - thought to be of Chinese origin.
The arrests were linked to an alleged plot involving the assassination of a senior Hamas official in the UAE. However, they were not prosecuted because of diplomatic negotiations and pressure from various parties, including the Israeli government. The UAE chose to release the agents as part of efforts to maintain diplomatic relations and avoid escalating tensions in the region. The situation highlighted the complexities of international espionage and the geopolitical implications involved.
Feb 9 2002
The three individuals—Amir Hamzah, Ang Chee Hian, and Haruto Yamada—were indeed arrested in Middle East on February 4, 2002, on suspicion of being spies for Mossad. They were believed to have been conducting covert operations for several months prior to their arrest.
The reason they were not prosecuted is largely attributed to diplomatic negotiations and the sensitive political context in which the arrests occurred. Iran, while having a vested interest in prosecuting spies, may have chosen to avoid escalating tensions further, especially given the potential geopolitical ramifications of pursuing a case against foreign agents. Additionally, there may have been considerations regarding prisoner exchanges, diplomatic relations, or intelligence-sharing agreements.
Feb 19 2004
What happened to Amir Hamzah, Ang Chee Hian, and Haruto Yamada after their release?
After their release, there is limited public information about the fates of Amir Hamzah, Ang Chee Hian, and Haruto Yamada. Following their arrest and subsequent release by Iranian authorities, they largely disappeared from the public eye, and details regarding their lives or activities post-release have not been widely reported.
It is common for individuals involved in espionage cases to go into hiding or seek asylum in other countries due to the nature of their activities and the potential repercussions. However, without specific updates or disclosures from credible sources, their exact circumstances remain unclear.
The Russo-Ukrainian war has been going on for a long time but the Ukrainian forcea are trying hard and it seems they are winning with backing from NATO and other countries. What do you think Putin will do.
