Rico Shirazi and son Shai under arrest following stabbing of man in feud over gambling control.
By YAAKOV LAPPINshirazi 248.88(photo credit: Channel 10 [file])
Police arrested Aryeh "Rico" Shirazi, a major underworld figure in Netanya, on Tuesday for abetting the murder of a 25-year-old man in a power struggle over gambling houses in the city, and charged Shirazi's 28-year-old son, Shai, with the slaying.
On April 14, Arthur Matayab, known to police due to past criminal activity, was stabbed in the back outside of the Ikea furniture outlet in Netanya's industrial zone.
An investigation launched by the Lahav 433 anti-organized crime unit and the National Serious and International Crimes Unit found evidence to support suspicions that Shai Shirazi, who was arrested last week, had stabbed Matayab to death, and was aided by his father, police said.
The Shirazi family has been entangled in a long standing feud with the Abutbul family in Netanya.
Francois's uncle, family head Charlie Abutbul, was shot and seriously wounded by two gunmen at a kiosk a few doors away from an Abutbul-owned restaurant in Netanya in September.
In January, Shai Shirazi was arrested for the torching of two vehicles.
Rico Shirazi's custody was extended by five days by a Petah Tikva magistrate, while his son's custody was extended by eight days on Wednesday. A court-ordered media ban prevents further publication of details on the case.
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