Police have detained several people for interrogation as they seek to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.
By Shula Rosen
Ethiopian authorities are investigating whether a 48-year-old Israeli businessman was poisoned after he was found dead inside a restaurant restroom in Addis Ababa, with several suspects detained for questioning.
The businessman, identified as Rada, had been eating at the restaurant with a group of people when he left their table to go to the restroom. His companions began searching for him after he failed to return.
Approximately 40 minutes after Rada left the table, he was discovered dead inside a toilet cubicle.
Police have detained several people for interrogation as they seek to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.
Possible poisoning is among the main lines of inquiry, but Ethiopian authorities have not determined an official cause of death or confirmed that poison was responsible.
An autopsy is expected as part of the investigation into how the Israeli businessman died.
Authorities are examining what occurred during the approximately 40-minute period between Rada’s departure from the group and the discovery of his body.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Embassy in Addis Ababa have been in contact with Rada’s family following his death. Israeli officials are also coordinating with Ethiopian authorities to return his body to Israel for burial.
Repatriation efforts are continuing while Ethiopian authorities investigate the case. Rada’s body will likely have to undergo an autopsy before it can be returned to Israel.
No definitive cause of death has been established as authorities continue questioning the detained suspects and investigating the possibility of poisoning.
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