Australian passports
Media release
9 March 2010
Dubai authorities contacted Australian officials on 26 February in relation to a further Australian passport in possible connection with the murder of senior Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai.
Inquiries by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Passport Office (APO) indicate the further passport presented in Dubai was fraudulently duplicated, as was the case with the initial three passports.
Following further inquiries, and in agreement with Dubai authorities, on 3 March, officials from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade contacted the passport holder by telephone to advise him of this information and to offer full consular support and assistance.
I can confirm media reports indicating that the passport concerned was under the name of Joshua Krycer.
I can also confirm an Interpol Red Notice was issued on 6 March providing Mr Krycer's name as an alias of a suspect involved in the murder.
As a consequence of this, Mr Krycer's name has now come into the public arena.
Consular officials met with Mr Krycer on 7 March.
Given privacy and operational considerations, the Government was not in a position to make these matters public prior to this.
There is no information to suggest that Mr Krycer, as with any of the other three Australian passport holders, was involved in any way, other than as victims of identity fraud.
Australian Government officials continue to provide those four Australians consular support and assistance.
Media inquiries
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