The Israel Police published a video on Sunday in which Walter Alejandro Kogan, the police's representative to South America, shares his account of being the one to reach Mali and Liel Yahalomi in Argentina, a week after the Israeli mother and daughter were last seen in Vienna, Austria.
Kogan, who can be heard in the video of the two Israelis being located, which was published on Friday, recounted the operation that led him to them.
"Israel Police representatives deployed around the world work with law enforcement agencies to promote international activity, as part of the Global Protector infrastructure that operates in the Intelligence Division," Kogan explained.
"The representatives work to strengthen the operational capabilities against criminal organizations, and in the incident with the missing women as well, we worked to reach them quickly."
Kogan described how he pursued the two after it was learned that they were outside Buenos Aires, "When I understood that they were travelling outside Buenos Aires, I drove operationally together with colleagues from the Argentine Police and INTERPOL. I reached the missing women, I identified myself, and I made sure their lives were not in danger, and that no crime was committed."
He said that additional forces participated in the operation, including the Operational Sustainment Department in the Intelligence Division. Kogan concluded his remarks, "In the end, there was a happy ending, and that's what matters."
Kogan is the officer heard in footage released by police showing the moment Mali and Liel were located, although his face was not visible in the video. Upon approaching the two, he introduced himself: “Hi Mali, hi Liel, I’m Walter, the police representative in South America, okay? I’m from the Israel Police Intelligence Division."
Kogan was then heard explaining that he wanted to speak with them separately from the others present. “I want to ask you a few questions. We were very worried about you, okay? I’m going to get everyone off the bus, and then we’ll talk, okay?"
Kogan, who lived in Be’er Sheva, served until several years ago as the investigations and intelligence officer at the Arad police station, with the rank of chief superintendent. He was later promoted to commander and appointed the Israel Police representative in Latin America.