KUALA LUMPUR – Israeli national Avitan Shalom today claimed trial to two amended charges under the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 and the Arms Act 1960.
The 38-year-old pleaded not guilty to possessing an additional 16 bullets found in a Glock 17, 11 bullets in a Smith & Wesson, and 15 bullets in a Stoeger Cougar 8000F gun.
Following this, the total number of bullets he allegedly owned increased to 200, compared to the 158 bullets he was charged over in April.
On April 12, Avitan pleaded not guilty to possessing 158 bullets, which were eight 9mm Shell Shock NAS3 bullets and three boxes of 50 bullets each made by Bullet Master Co Ltd.
He also pleaded not guilty to possessing six guns, which were a Glock 19, Glock 17, Sig Sauer P320SP, Cougar 8000FT, Cougar 8000F and Smith & Wesson.
His charges remain framed under Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960 for ammunition possession and Section 7(1) of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 for firearms trafficking.
Section 8(a) carries a maximum seven-year imprisonment or a maximum RM10,000 fine, or both upon conviction, while Section 7(1) carries between a thirty and forty-year jail term and a minimum of six strokes of whipping if convicted.
During today’s case management, deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam told the court that all documents had been filed and exchanged with Avitan’s defence team, led by Navinjit Singh and Jeffrey Ooi.
The prosecution also stated that they were prepared to call approximately 20 witnesses for the trial.
Sessions court judge Norina Zainol Abidin fixed a nine-day trial from September 30 to October 11.
She also fixed June 28 for case management. – May 21, 2024