Israeli smuggler sentenced in Malaysia
A Kuala Lumpur court on Wednesday sentenced an Israeli to seven years in prison for weapons possession and smuggling, Reuters reports.
Shalom Avitan, a 39-year-old Israeli citizen, was found guilty of possessing six firearms and ammunition. He was later found guilty of illegally transporting weapons into Malaysia. Avitan's accomplices were identified as a Malaysian married couple who helped run his criminal business.
Israel and Malaysia do not have diplomatic relations. Malaysian authorities suspect Avitan may be a member of an organized crime group or engaged in espionage.
He arrived in the country on March 12, 2024, from the UAE on a French passport. On March 27, he was arrested by police at a hotel with a bag containing a gun. When arrested, Avitan showed his Israeli passport.
A court in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday found Avitan guilty and sentenced him to seven years in prison, starting from the date of his arrest. The defendant will serve his sentence at Kajang Prison on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital, according to lawyer Naran Singh.
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