THE Kuala Lumpur sessions court fixed nine days to hear the case of Israeli national Shalom Avitan, who is charged with gun trafficking and the possession of bullets.

Judge Norina Zainol Abidin set the dates during case management today after the prosecution indicated it was ready to proceed with the case.

The trial will run from September 30 to October 3 and from October 7 to 11.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam told the court that the prosecution would be calling 20 witnesses.

The court also granted the prosecution’s request to amend the bullet possession charge against Avitan under Section 8 of the Arms Act 1960, by increasing the alleged number of bullets from 158 to 200.

There was also an amendment to the second charge with regards to the serial numbers of the Glock and Stoeger Cougar pistols.

Avitan, 38, maintained his not guilty plea to the amended charges.

The accused was charged last month under Section 7(1) of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act for trafficking in six guns – Glock 19 USA 9x19; Sig Sauer P3205P; Cougar 8000FT; Glock 17 Gen4 Austria 9x19; M&P 9C Smith & Wesson Springfield MA USA and Stoeger Cougar 8000F; and Section 8 of the act for possessing the bullets.

He was accused of committing the offence at a hotel in Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur.

If found guilty of the gun trafficking charge, Avitan could be sentenced to death or life imprisonment and whipped at least six times.

For the second charge of unlawful possession of bullets, he faces up to 14 years in prison and six lashes of the whip.

Deputy public prosecutors Shafiq Hasim and Fazeedah Faik also appeared for the prosecution, while Avitan was represented by Jeffrey Ooi and Navinjit Singh. 

The Israeli was arrested at a hotel in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, on March 27. He is believed to have entered the country from the United Arab Emirates, on a French passport, on March 12.

The accused, who also holds an Israeli passport, has said that he was in Malaysia to hunt down and kill another Israeli over a family dispute.

On April 8, a local couple suspected of supplying firearms to the Israeli man was charged in the Klang sessions court for firearms offences. – May 21, 2024.