Sulu invasion trial begins

The trial of the thirty Phillippine Suluk intruders arrested for an attack on Lahad Datu, Sabah in Feb 2013, began today at the high-security Kepayan Prison instead of the High Court of Kota Kinabalu complex in the city centre, for security reasons.

Justice Stephen Chung Hian Guan presided the case of the gunmen, known as the Sulu Royal Army, who are staking claim that Sabah is part of the Sulu Sultanate.

Among those on trial is Datu Amirbahar Hushin Kiram, a nephew of the late self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan, Jamalul Kiram, who recently died of various illnesses in a Manila hospital.

The Malaysian prosecution team is led by the Attorney General, Abdul Gani Patail, who incidentally hails from Lahad Datu’s nearby district of Tawau.

Abdul Gani’s team include attorneys Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, Abdul Wahab Mohamed, Ishak Mohd Yusoff, Anati Kisahi and Cheng Heng Kher.

According to a security source, proceedings began this morning at the Kepayan Prisons and charges were read out against the Sulu intruders in English, Malay and the Sulu language.

Beside Amirbahar, the other 29 accused are Abdul Hadi Mawan, Pablo Alie, Mohamad Ali Ahmad, Kadir Uyung, Lating Tiong, Holland Kalbi, Habil Suhaili, Lin Mad Salleh, Atik Hussin Abu Bakar, Basad Manuel, Timhar Hadir, Tani Lahad Dani, Aiman Radie, Salib Akmad Emali, Julham Rashid, Al-Wazir Osman @ Abdul, Ismail Yasin, Masir Aidin, Virgilio Nemar Patulada @ Mohammad Alam Patulada, Anwar Salib Akhmad, Binhar Salib Akhmad, Norhaida Ibnahi, Rijmal Salleh, Saidili Jaharul, Dani Ismail, Basil Samiul, Rizman Gulan, Abdul Majin Jubin and Totoh Hismulah.

They are being prosecuted for various charges under the Malaysian Penal Code covering the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

These charges cover the waging of war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Malaysian King), harbouring of terrorists, being members of a terrorist group, and recruiting of terrorists.

Counsels N Sivananthan, James Tsai, Stella Simon, Majnah Abdullah, Zaleha Mohd Yusuf, Teressa Sirri and Zakaria Ahmad represented 27 of the accused during a previous appearance.

The remaining accused were represented by Ram Singh, Abdul Gani Zelika and Rowiena Rashid.

The Phillippine Sulus were charged last year after being apprehended in relation to the February incursion by 200 Suluks and subsequent battle with Malaysian security forces at Kampung Tanduo in Sabah’s east-coast town of Lahad Datu. -FMT