(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Shalom Avitan, a dual citizen of Israel and France, pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing six handguns—Glock 19 Marine, Glock 17 Gen 4, Smith and Wesson, Sig Sauer, and Stoeger—along with 158 rounds of ammunition in March.
The 38-year-old made his plea in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today.
The Israel and French passport holder requested a trial after the charges were read to him by a court interpreter before Judge Tasnim Abu Bakar.
“I understand the charges, and I plead not guilty,” he stated succinctly.
According to the indictment, Avitan was charged with the possession of the firearms and ammunition between March 26 and 28, at a luxury hotel on Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
He faces charges under Section 7 of the Firearms Act (Increased Penalties), which carries a sentence of death or life imprisonment and no less than six strokes of the cane if found guilty.
Avitan was escorted into the courtroom at 9:30 am under heavy police guard, including officers wearing balaclavas and carrying sub-machine gun.
He arrived at the courthouse around 8 am in a police vehicle, flanked by approximately 20 heavily armed police officers, before being taken inside the court complex.
Judge Tasmin Abu Bakar denied bail for Avitan and scheduled a re-mention of the case on May 21.
Malaysia’s Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Razaruddin Hussian stated that Avitan entered Malaysia on March 12 using a French passport from the United Arab Emirates.
During interrogation, Avitan claimed he was in the country to locate a compatriot named “Eran Haya” allegedly in connection with a family issue.
The arrest prompted heightened security measures in Malaysia, including protection for the Prime Minister and the King, amid ongoing hostilities between Palestine and Israel.
Malaysia is a vocal supporter of Palestine and has strongly criticized Israel’s actions in the Gaza conflict.
Meanwhile, Israeli Hebrew-language media identified Avitan as a member of the Musli Brothers criminal gang.
According to Israeli news and entertainment portal Mako, Avitan entered Malaysia to kill a rival criminal gang leader known as Eran Haya, with whom his gang had been embroiled in a violent conflict for months.
Channel 12, an Israeli TV station, reported that Avitan’s home in an upscale neighborhood near Tel Aviv was bombed by associates of the Haya crime group in mid-March.
Around the same time as the attack, Haya is believed to have entered Malaysia, with Avitan following soon after using his French passport given his dual citizenship. — DSA