An Israeli man, Avitan Shalom, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to two charges related to firearms possession. The Sessions Court in Malaysia delivered the verdict on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, after considering his guilty plea. Judge Mohd Zaki Mohd Salleh imposed the maximum sentence for both charges, which will run concurrently starting from the date of arrest on March 28, 2024, reports the Star.
Shalom, aged 39, faced two charges—one for possessing firearms without a permit and another for having ammunition in his possession. He was found with six firearms, including various models of Glock and Sig Sauer, as well as several boxes of ammunition. The offences occurred between March 26 and March 28, 2024, at a hotel in Jalan Ampang.
Following the court’s decision, Shalom’s personal belongings, including his passport, credit cards, and mobile phones, will be handed over to the prison within 14 days.
In a previous representation to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), Shalom’s legal team sought a reduction in the charges to avoid a more severe sentence for firearms trafficking. The AGC agreed to amend the charge to a lesser offence under Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years.
During the hearing, Shalom’s lawyer, Datuk Naran Singh, mentioned that his client was a businessman with interests in medical supplies, real estate, and cryptocurrency in New York, and that he had a family in Israel. The AGC did not object to the concurrent sentence due to the nature of the offences, which were committed at the same time and location.
Shalom will serve his sentence at Kajang Prison in Malaysia.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
