An Israeli man on Friday pleaded not guilty to charges
of trafficking and possessing firearms in a Kuala Lumpur court
. That's according to his lawyer after Malaysia, police
said last month, Shalom Avitan was arrested carrying six
guns and nearly 160 bullets on Friday. Avitan was
escorted into court by more than a dozen police officials
. Authorities said the 38 year old arrived in Malaysia
mid March from the United Arab Emirates on a French
passport. They said officers arrested him late March at
a Kuala Lumpur with a bag carrying the weapons and
that he produced an Israeli passport upon questioning if convicted
, Avitan could face up to 40 years in prison
as well as caning a form of corporal punishment used
in Malaysia as well as Singapore where a person is
whipped with a cane. Officials have said Avitan claimed
he was in Malaysia to hunt down another Israeli citizen
over a family dispute. You want to find one
. But police say they're still investigating Avitan s motives
. A married Malaysian couple was charged earlier this week
with supplying the firearms to Avitan. Police have detained
eight other people including two Turks and a Georgian man
in connection with the case. According to state media
authorities have beefed up border security following Avitan s arrest
amid tensions over the country's criticism of Israel's actions in
the Gaza War, Malaysia and Israel have no diplomatic 00:01:33.959 --> relations.