KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution will provide the hotel's closed-circuit television recording (CCTV) and forensic analysis to the defence of Israeli man Shalom Avitan, who is facing charges of possessing bullets and trafficking firearms, within a month.
During today's mention proceedings today, the Sessions Court was informed that these documents will be handed over to Shalom's lawyers ahead of a nine-day trial commencing in September.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam said the majority of documents have been given to Shalom's lawyers.
"We still have a few more documents including the CCTV recording and forensic analysis.
"The prosecution asks for a new date in a month's time for us to handover all the documents to the accused's lawyers to prepare for defence," he said.
Lawyer Datuk Naran Singh informed the court that he has been appointed as Shalom's lead counsel.
Naran did not object to the time period requested by the prosecution and asked that all documents to be served by then.
He said the trial dates set in the previous proceedings could be maintained.
Mustaffa was assisted by deputy public prosecutor Rullizah Abdul Majid. Apart from Naran, lawyers Navinjit Singh and Jeffrey Ooi appeared for Shalom.
Last month, the court had set trial dates commencing Sept 30, Oct 1,2,3 and 7,8,9,10,11 where about 20 prosecution witnesses will testify.
Shalom,38, from Bnei-Brak, Israel had claimed trial to two amended charges framed under the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 and the Arms Act 1960.
In the two amended charge sheets, the prosecution had made amendments to the possession of bullets from 158 to 200; as well as the type, name and serial number of three of six firearms.
The first amended charge read that he had possessed without permit 158 bullets in four boxes and 42 bullets in three firearm magazines of Glock 17 Gen4 Austria 9X19, M&P 9C Smith & Wesson Springfield MA USA and Stoeger Cougar 800F.
The second amended charge read he had trafficked six firearms without permit namely Glock 19 USA 9x19 (Serial number: AEGS286); Sig Sauer P3205P (Serial number: 58C283463); Cougar 8000FT (Serial number T6429-10G002496); Glock 17 Gen4 Austria 9x19 (Serial number: BDZZ090); M&P 9C Smith & Wesson Springfield MA USA (Serial number: DSW9077) dan Stoeger Cougar 8000F (Serial number:T6429-08-A029304).
The offences were committed between 6.46pm on March 26 and 6pm on March 28 in a room of a hotel in Jalan Ampang.
The charge under Section 8(a) of the Arms Act carries imprisonment less than seven years; fine not more than RM10,000 or both.
The charge under Section 7(1) of Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 provides a jail term not less than 30 years but not exceeding 40 years with not less than six strokes of the rotan.
On April 12, Shalom pleaded not guilty to two charges of possessing 158 bullets and trafficking six firearms in the hotel room.
On March 27, he was detained at the hotel where he was found with six handguns.
Investigations found Shalom entered the country on March 12 via a flight from the United Arab Emirates using a French passport.
He was believed to have come to Malaysia to kill the head of a rival criminal family.
Subsequently, police arrested a husband and wife, aged 42 and 40, at a Ramadan bazaar in Kuala Selangor on March 29, who were suspected of selling the firearms to Shalom.