July 11 court date for couple allegedly linked to Israeli ‘hitman’ case

KUALA SELANGOR: The Sessions Court here has fixed July 11 for next mention of the case involving a married couple suspected of supplying firearms to an Israeli man.

Sharifah Faraha Syed Husin, 41, and Abdul Azim Mohd Yasin, 43, arrived in court at 9.30am and 9.50am Tuesday (June 11) respectively.

In Tuesday’s proceedings, DPP Fazeedah Faik said the prosecution was still in the process of preparing documents to be submitted to the defence.

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Fazeedah also told the court she had received a representation from the defence on behalf of Sharifah Faraha on June 2 and that it was being examined for further action.

Counsel Mohamad Isa Mohamad Basir, representing Sharifah Faraha, also submitted two applications – one for his client to be allowed to be examined at a clinic outside the prison and the other to request prison wardens not to provide false information related to the case.

“… Two weeks ago my client passed out in the Kajang women’s prison and I understand that until today she has only received (standard) treatment.

“(She) complained of head pains and has asked for an X-ray.

“I also understand that the wardens have given … false information and have put pressure on my client and this needs to stop,” he said.

He added that his team was also obtaining the health records of the accused from Hospital Sultanah Aminah in Johor as she had previously suffered from depression and anxiety.

Judge Ahmad Faizadh Yahya then advised that both applications be resolved administratively by the prison.

Lawyer Ethan Tan, who represented Abdul Azim, was also present at Tuesday’s proceedings.

On April 8, Sharifah Faraha pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing a CZ 75 P-01 pistol at a house in Kampung Bukit Belimbing, Kuala Selangor at 8pm on March 29.

She was charged under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years and no fewer than six strokes of the cane if convicted.

Abdul Azim was alleged to have been with Sharifah Faraha, in a situation that gave rise to a reasonable presumption that he knew his wife had the firearm in question, at the same location, date and time.

ALSO READ: Couple allegedly linked to Israeli claim trial to firearms possession

He also claimed trial to the charge, under Section 9 of the same Act, which provides for similar penalties upon conviction.

It was reported earlier that the couple was arrested in Kuala Selangor at about 7.15pm on March 29.

They then led police to their home, where a pistol kept in a sling bag was seized.

They were investigated for allegedly providing weapons to Israeli Shalom Avitan, who was found with six pistols and 200 rounds of ammunition on him when arrested on March 27 by a team from Bukit Aman and Kuala Lumpur CID at a hotel in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

The guns included a Sig Sauer, two Glocks and a Smith & Wesson, and were found in bags belonging to the suspect in his hotel room.

Avitan has since claimed trial to firearms trafficking charges, with trial dates fixed for September and October and a further mention date set for June 28. – BK