An Israeli man pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today on two charges of trading six firearms and possessing 158 live bullets.
Avitan Shalom, 38, made the plea after both charges were read out to him before judge Tasnim Abu Bakar.
The offences were allegedly committed in a hotel room in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between 6.46pm on March 26 and 6pm on March 28.
The Israeli was charged under Section 7(1) of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 (Act 37), which carries a minimum of 30 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years and no fewer than six strokes of the cane.
The man was also charged under Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960 (Act 206), which provides for a maximum imprisonment of seven years, or a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam did not offer any bail as it is a non-bailable offence.
Lawyers Navinjit Singh and Jeffrey Ooi who represented the accused agreed with the prosecution’s proposal and did not raise any objections.
The court fixed May 21 for re-mention of the case.
Avitan was believed to have come to Malaysia to kill the head of a rival criminal gang.