KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here fixed 12 days in January next year for the trial of Israeli Avitan Shalom, who is charged with trafficking six firearms and possessing 200 rounds of ammunition.
Judge Norina Zainol Abidin set Jan 6 to 9, Jan 13 to 16 and Jan 20 to 23 to hear the case after Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam requested the court reschedule the trial dates, which were earlier set to begin Monday (Sept 30).
"The prosecution will call 30 witnesses, " said Mohamad Mustaffa.
ALSO READ: Footage in ‘Israeli hitman’ case not for public
The court also vacated the earlier hearing dates, Oct 1 to 3 and Oct 7 to 11.
At Monday's proceedings, Avitan was represented by lawyer Sreekant Pillai.
ALSO READ: AGC rejects Israeli's representation in firearms possession, trafficking case
On the first charge, Shalom was alleged to be in possession of a box containing eight Shell Shock NAS3 9mm bullets, three boxes of Bullet Master Co Ltd containing 150 bullets and 42 bullets in three firearms without a permit.
The charge was framed under Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960 (Act 206), which provides for a maximum imprisonment of seven years, a fine not exceeding RM10,000, or both if convicted.
He was also charged with trafficking firearms, namely a Glock 19 USA 9x19, a Sig Sauer P3205P, a Cougar 8000FT, an Austrian Glock 17 Gen4 9x19, an M&P 9C Smith & Wesson Springfield MA USA and a Stoeger Cougar 8000F.
The charge, framed under Section 7(1) of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 (Act 37), provides a minimum of 30 years imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years and not less than six strokes of the cane if found guilty.
Both offences were allegedly committed in a hotel room in Jalan Ampang, here between 6.46pm on March 26 and 6pm on March 28, 2024. – Bernama