KLANG: A Malaysian woman and her husband have been charged separately with supplying weapons to an Israeli national, framed under Sections 8 and 9 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act at the Sessions Court here before judge Sharifah Hascindie Syed Omar.
Sharifah Faraha Syed Husin, 41, was charged under Section 8 of the Act while her spouse Abdul Azim Mohd Yasin, 43, was charged under Section 9.
Sharifah Faraha was charged with possessing a Luger pistol CZ 75 P-01 CAL.9 bearing the serial number A216210, while Abdul Azim was charged with consorting with his wife, given that he was aware that she had the weapon with her.
Both the accused, who were unrepresented, claimed trial to the charges and if found guilty, are liable to a jail term of up to 14 years and whipping of not fewer than six times.
Deputy public prosecutors Mohammad Fakhrurrazi Ahmad Salim and Fazeedah Faik prosecuted the case.
As the offences were not bailable, both accused were returned to police custody.
According to the charge sheet, the couple was accused of committing the offence at a house located at No. 183, Jalan Haji Omar, Kampung Bukit Belimbing, Kuala Selangor, at about 8pm on March 29.
They were nabbed by police on March 29 at a Ramadan bazaar, also in Kuala Selangor.
It was reported earlier that Israeli national Shalom Avitan was nabbed at a hotel in Ampang on March 27 and was found to be in possession of a mini arsenal consisting of six guns and 200 bullets.
Earlier reports stated that Sharifah Faraha and Abdul Azim were suspected of supplying the weapons to Avitan, 36, who had entered the country on a French passport.
However, he had handed over his Israeli passport to the police after he was detained.
Among the guns in Avitan’s possession were a Sig Sauer, two Glocks and a Smith & Wesson.
Although the Israeli is suspected to be a spy, Avitan told police that he was here to seek and snuff out a fellow Israeli due to a family dispute.
Hebrew-language news outlets reported that Avitan belonged to the underworld and was a member of a crime family.
The reports said that Avitan had been assigned to look for, and take out, a member of a rival crime family who had made his way into Malaysia, adding that both underworld families had been locked in a feud spanning over several months.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said Avitan is expected to be charged this week.
“We are investigating the man’s real motive for possessing the six firearms. So, maybe charges will be brought against the Israeli man this week after Raya,” he said at the Police Training Centre yesterday.
He added that investigations were still ongoing as police were gathering more information.
