An Israeli private investigator fighting extradition to the U.S. has accused FBI agents of violating his rights by detaining him without reading him his Miranda warnings, a breach that his lawyer argues compromises his right to a fair trial. The allegations were aired in London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday as part of the ongoing extradition proceedings.
Lawyer: FBI “Bait and Switch” Tactic Violated Suspect’s Rights
Amit Forlit, accused of running a hacking-for-hire operation targeting climate activists and other entities, was detained in October 2021 at the U.S. Embassy in London. His lawyer, Barry Pollack of Harris St. Laurent & Wechsler LLP, testified that the FBI lured Forlit to London under the pretense of discussing unrelated sanctions violations, only to interrogate him as a suspect in a hacking investigation.
Pollack argued that the FBI’s actions amounted to a “bait and switch” scheme. While the FBI had written to Forlit days before stating he was not under detention, Pollack contended that the presence of armed guards, the confiscation of his mobile devices, and the context of the questioning rendered him effectively in custody under U.S. law.
