KUALA LUMPUR: Israeli Avitan Shalom, who is facing two charges of possession of bullets and trafficking in firearms, will go to trial in September.
Sessions Court judge Norina Zainol Abidin today (May 21) set a nine-day trial commencing Sept 30, Oct 1,2,3 and 7,8,9,10,11.
The 38-year-old man from Bnei-Brak, Israel today also claimed trial to two amended charges framed under the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 and the Arms Act 1960.
In the two amended charge sheets, the prosecution had made amendments to the possession of bullets from 158 to 200; as well as the type, name and serial number of three of six firearms. Shalom, who was brought into the court room at 9.20am, said he understood both charges read out to him in English.
"Not guilty," he said as he shook his head at the dock guarded several armed policemen. The first amended charge read that he had possessed without permit 158 bullets in four boxes and 42 bullets in three firearm magazines of Glock 17 Gen4 Austria 9X19, M&P 9C Smith & Wesson Springfield MA USA and Stoeger Cougar 800F.
The second amended charge read he had trafficked six firearms without permit namely Glock 19 USA 9x19 (Serial number: AEGS286); Sig Sauer P3205P (Serial number: 58C283463); Cougar 8000FT (Serial number T6429-10G002496); Glock 17 Gen4 Austria 9x19 (Serial number: BDZZ090); M&P 9C Smith & Wesson Springfield MA USA (Serial number: DSW9077) dan Stoeger Cougar 8000F (Serial number:T6429-08-A029304).The offences were committed between 6.46pm on March 26 and 6pm on March 28 in a room of a hotel in Jalan Ampang.
The charge under Section 8(a) of the Arms Act carries imprisonment less than seven years; fine not more than RM10,000 or both.The charge under Section 7(1) of Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 provides a jail term not less than 30 years but not exceeding 40 years with not less than six strokes of the rotan.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam applied for the two charges to be tried together.He said this was because the case involved the sole accused who had committed the acts at the same place.
The prosecution also handed over to the defence 17 copies of documents. He told the court that about 20 prosecution witnesses will testify in the trial and witness statements will be prepared.
Shalom's defence counsel, Navinjit Singh, who was assisted by Jeffrey Ooi, said he took note of the amended charges and did not object to the joint trial. The court granted the two charges to be tried together.
Mustaffa was assisted by deputy public prosecutors Shafiq Hasim and Fazeedah Faik.Judge Norina fixed June 28 for mention and document submissions.
On April 12, Shalom pleaded not guilty to two charges of possessing 158 bullets and trafficking six firearms in the hotel room.
On March 27, he was detained at the hotel where he was found with six handguns.
Investigations found Shalom entered the country on March 12 via a flight from the United Arab Emirates using a French passport.
He was believed to have come to Malaysia to kill the head of a rival criminal family.Subsequently, police arrested a husband and wife, aged 42 and 40, at a Ramadan bazaar in Kuala Selangor on March 29, who were suspected of selling the firearms to Shalom.
