Gani leads prosecution in Lahad Datu

Eight people from the southern Philippines were charged with engaging in terrorism and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

LAHAD DATU: A high-powered prosecution team led by Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail has put forward its case against several members of the detained Sulu armed group involved in the intrusion into Sabah.

Gani arrived around noon at the Lahad Datu district police headquarters where a temporary magistrate’s court has been set up to hear the charges related to police investigations under the Security Offences Act 2012.

Security was tight around the police headquarters and most of the people to be charged were allegedly involved with the southern Filipino armed group which occupied Kampung Tanduo since Feb 9.

Eight people from southern Philippines were charged in the makeshift court with engaging in terrorism and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

All of them were aged between 17 and 66.

According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokthar, the men were investigated under the Securities Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 and charged under Section 130KA of the Penal Code with being members of a terrorist group and under Section 121 of the same Act for waging war against the King.

If convicted, the men face life imprisonment and death penalty under the respective sections.

No plea was recorded. The men were charged before Sessions Court Judge Amelati Parnell who sat as a magistrate.

The court has ordered that the cases be transferred to the Tawau High Court.

Also present was the deputy head of the prosecution division (policy) Nordin Ahmad. Both Dusuki and Nordin are from the Attorney-General’s Chambers in Putrajaya.

A total of 107 people had been detained as of yesterday under the Security Offences Act and another 243 were held for various other offences.

The “Ops Daulat” mopping-up operations are ongoing in Tanjong Batu, one month after the incursion.

Police claim there are still about 50 gunmen on the loose while its leader, Agbimuddin Kiram, is believed to have escaped the security dragnet with several of his followers. They are believed to be hiding in the neighbouring southern Philippines’ chain of islands.