Israeli National Shalom Avitan Faces Severe Penalties in Malaysia for Arms Trafficking

Shalom Avitan pleads not guilty to charges of arms trafficking and illegal possession of firearms, amid speculations of espionage connections.

Shalom Avitan, 38, was arrested in Malaysia with six guns and 158 bullets, facing up to 40 years in prison and mandatory corporal punishment if convicted.
Avitan entered Malaysia on a French passport and was detained at a Kuala Lumpur hotel, raising suspicions of involvement with Israeli crime syndicates or espionage.
Malaysian authorities have charged a local couple for supplying the firearms to Avitan and detained 16 individuals in connection with the case.
Speculations about Avitan's motives include possible ties to Israeli intelligence or a personal vendetta against a rival Israeli.
Malaysia's stringent stance on firearms and diplomatic tensions with Israel underscore the gravity of the case.