KUALA LUMPUR: A toy shop owner was charged in the magistrate's court yesterday with the possession of imitation firearms at a shop in Jalan Raja Laut.
Chang Wah Choong, 45, pleaded not guilty to charges under Section 36 of the Firearms Act 1960 for possession and importation of imitation firearms, and Sections 55B and 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for employing foreign workers without valid permits.
According to facts of the case, police from the Federal Internal Security and Public Order Department's Wildlife Crime Bureau and Special Intelligence and Investigations unit conducted a raid at the toy shop on Dec 18.
During the operation, the raiding party discovered 637 imitation firearms resembling rifles and submachine guns hidden within the premises.
Following the discovery of the imitation firearms, Chang, along with a foreigner working as a shop assistant was arrested by the police.
Magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan later set bail at RM6,000 for both charges fixed Feb 7 next year as mention.
Meanwhile, the shop assistant, Ibrahim Madbar, 28, from Bangladesh, pleaded guilty to staying in the country without a permit, an offence under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Ibrahim was fined RM3,500 for the offence, which he promptly paid.
Previously, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said police are working to curb the widespread sale of imitation firearms, known as gel-blaster guns, which some criminals misuse for illegal activities.
These gel-blaster guns are being sold on e-commerce platforms and even on TikTok via live sessions for as low as RM150.
Razarudin said, police last year recorded 148 cases involving the use of these toy guns in crime, the majority of which saw criminals using them to rob their victims.