79. M16 etc at combat ground

theborneopost.comhttp://www.theborneopost.com/2014/01/10/m16-m1-garand-rifles-among-firearms-found-at-combat-ground/

M16, M1 Garand rifles among firearms found at combat ground

KOTA KINABALU: An officer with the General Operations Force (GOF)’s VAT69 Commando told the High Court here yesterday that Malaysian security forces found weapons at the combat ground where they had clashed with terrorists on March 1 last year.

Questioned by deputy public prosecutor Abdul Wahab Mohamed on how he could single out the firearms that were earlier shown him for identification, Mancha said he recognised them from the physical marks such as the gun sling.
The witness said he could also identify three units of grenade launcher casings that were found by the security forces, based on their shape and colour.
Mancha had further identified eight magazines that were also found at the site, seven of which contained live bullets and one empty.
Asked whether other weapons were found, he said the security forces also discovered six machetes with a length of 44 cm, 67 cm, 70 cm, 80 cm, 53 cm and 73 cm.
He said the weapons were handed to GOF 17th Battalion assistant commanding officer DSP Syed Ahmad Tajuddin on March 1, 2013 at 1.30 pm at the same site.
Of the 30 accused, 27 are Filipinos and three were locals.
Some are facing multiple allegations of being members of a terrorist group or waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, recruiting members for a terrorist group or wilfully harbouring individuals they knew to be members of a terrorist group.
They allegedly committed the offences between Feb 12 and April 10 last year. — Bernama

78. The trial of enemies

http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/01/07/trial-opens-against-30-over-terrorism-activities-high-court-sits-in-sabah-prisons-department/

 

Trial opens against 30 over terrorism activities, High Court sits in Sabah Prisons Department

VAT 69 personnel guarding Kota Kinabalu prison, which has been converted to an open court for the trial of 30 people charged with terrorism-related activities in Sabah. Press photographers were not allowed into the area. — Bernama photo

KOTA KINABALU: A trial opened yesterday in the High Court, which sat in the Sabah Prisons Department, where three Malaysians and 27 Filipinos are charged mainly with waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and activities related to terrorism in Sabah early last year.
The prosecution’s first witness, former deputy director of the Internal Security and Public Order Department (Special Operations Command) Bukit Aman, Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun, told the court he noticed a difference in the number of ‘intruders’ in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, when he entered the village twice on different dates.
“The majority of them were different from the ones I saw the day before. But, they were all wearing the same type of uniform with camouflage prints and they were armed,” he said.
Not only was there a drop in the number of intruders, there were new faces compared to the ones he saw and met on his first visit, he added.
Abdul Rashid, who is now the director of the Security and Public Order Division of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) in Lahad Datu, said that on the first day of his visit on Feb 15, he was disguised as a police personnel with the rank of sergeant major.
He said he helped to carry supplies from the police vehicle to the kitchen of an occupied house and, when he conducted a head count, he found that there were 79 armed people, five of them women, in attire that looked like army fatigue.
But on his visit the following day, he counted 63 and the majority of them were not the same people he saw during his first visit, he said.
On his first visit, he said, he noticed three men holding M16 rifles and one man had a .45 pistol at his waist.
During his second visit, he noticed more types of weapons such as a Garand rifle, four Colt G45 pistols, one revolver and a carbine as well as machetes worn on the body of some of the men and on the waist of others. “But one man had two grenade launchers in a webbing belt kit worn on his chest, one launcher on the left side of his chest and the other on the right,” he said.
Abdul Rashid said he did not take part in the negotiations between ACP Zulkifli Abd Aziz, who was the deputy chief of Special Branch 1 in Sabah, and leader of the intruders, Datu Agbimuddin Kiram.
He said the purpose of his joining the visit to Kampung Tanduo was to conduct ‘ground appreciation’ to gather information on the intruders, including evaluating the enemies’ strength and the weapons they had. Earlier, the prosecution amended the date of all the charges from Feb 9 to Feb 12 last year.
Of the 30 individuals being jointly tried for various offences in relation to terrorism activities in Sabah between Feb 12 and April 10, twenty-two, including two Malaysian men, are charged with being members of a terrorist group, punishable with life imprisonment and a fine, and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction.
Of the 22, one faces two additional charges of recruiting members of a terrorist group and harbouring persons knowing that they were members of a terrorist group.
Of the remaining eight, five are accused of being members of a terrorist group; one of them, the sole woman of the 30 and a Malaysian citizen, is charged with harbouring persons knowing they were members of a terrorist group, while two are charged with attempting to harbour persons knowing they were members of a terrorist group.
The rest are Filipino nationals.
The hearing, before Justice Stephen Chung, is aided by a prosecuting team of seven led by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, while a total of 10 counsel appeared for the accused, including a team of six led by peninsular-based lawyer Datuk N Sivananthan for 28 of the individuals.
The hearing continues today. — Bernama

77. The trial of 30 to proceed

http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/09/18/nov-1-pre-trial-case-management-for-terrorism-accused/

Nov 1 pre-trial case management for terrorism accused

by Suriani Andokong. Posted on September 18, 2013, Wednesday

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/09/18/nov-1-pre-trial-case-management-for-terrorism-accused/#ixzz2fCpMAz7i


KOTA KINABALU: The High here yesterday set November 1 this year for the pre-trial case management of the case of 30 accused persons who were charged with waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, being a member of a terrorist group, harbouring terrorist members and recruiting other persons to be a member of a terrorist group.
Judge Stephen Chung fixed the date to re-mention the case after Peninsular-based senior lawyer Datuk N Sivananthan for the 27 accused applied for an adjournment when the case came up for trial yesterday.
Sivananthan told the court that he needed ample time to peruse into certain documents, especially the satellite images and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images for the case.
He requested for the pre-trial case management to be set on November 1 this year and suggested that possibly for the trial to be heard in January or February next year.
Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, who led the prosecution, raised no objection and agreed with the mention date.
Abdul Gani also said that the prosecution would provide all the necessary documents to all the counsel involved and he also informed the court they had just received some forensic documents regarding this case about two weeks ago.
The hearing was held at a hall of the Kepayan prison with tight security and the media were only allowed to bring their pens and notebooks.
There were limited seats provided for the media as well as the public and some of media have to wait outside the hall as the seats were fulled.
Armed security forces were seen moving around the prison areas.
Photographers and cameramen were waiting at the entrance gate as no cameras and gadgets were allowed.
After the proceedings ended, each accused was escorted by one policeman.
The self-styled Sultanate of Sulu Jamalul Kiram’s nephew, Datu Amirbahar Hushin Kiram, Ismail Hj Yassin, Basad H. Manuel, Binhar Salip Akhmad, Anwar Salip Akhmad and Atik Husin Abu Bakar Salib Akhmad Emali, Mohamad Ali Ahmad, Pabblo Alie, Abd Hadi Mawan, Dani Ismail, Saidali Jaharul, Totoh Hismullah, Basil Samiul, Rizman Gulan, Abdul Majil Jubin, Rijmal Salleh, Julham Rashid, Tani Lahad Dahi, Al Wazir Osman @ Abdul, Virgilio Nemar Patulada@ Mohammad Alam Patulada and Masir Adin, were accused of waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong between February 9 and April 15, 2013.
They were caught for allegedly committing the offence at Kampung Tanduo, Kampung Tanjung Labian, Jalan Kastam, Jalan Ulu Tungku and Ladang Atlast 2 in Lahad Datu areas, Kampung Perigi, Kampung Simunul, Kampung Bakau and Jalan Lihak-Lihak in Semporna areas, Kampung Madai in Kunak and Kampung Muanad in Beluran.
The indictment came under Section 121 of the Penal Code which is punishable by death sentence or life imprisonment and also liable to a fine upon conviction.
In the second case, Ismail, Basad, Binhar, Anwar and Atik with Amirbahar, Mohamad Ali, Pabblo, Abd Hadi, Dani, Saidali, Totoh, Basil, Rizman, Abdul Majil, Rijmal, Julham, Tani, Al Wazir, Virgilio, Masir, Aiman Radie, Timhar Hadir, Holland Kalbi, Lin Mad Salleh and Habil Suhaili were charged with being a member of a terrorist group at the same places and dates.
The charges were framed under Section 130KA of the Penal Code which provides for life imprisonment and also liable to a fine upon conviction.
The third case, involving a woman, Norhaida Ibhani and Salip Akhmad were charged with protecting a group of people in which they have reasons to believe that they are members of a terrorist group between February 9 and March 25, 2013 at an unnumbered house at Kampung Sri Melor, Bugaya in Semporna and Ladang Atlast 2, Jalan Ulu Tungku in Lahad Datu respectively.
The duo were charged under Section 130K of the Penal Code which carries life imprisonment and also liable to a fine upon conviction.
The fourth case involves Kadir Uyung and Lating Tiong who face charges of trying to hide the members of a terrorist group in front of a post of the General Operation Force (PGA) at Tanjung Labian in Lahad Datu at 4.30pm on March 4, 2013.
The charge under Section 130K of the Penal Code, read together with Section 511 of the Penal Code carries life imprisonment and also liable to a fine upon conviction.
Meanwhile, Salip was also charged with recruiting other persons to be a member of a terrorist group at Ladang Atlast 2, Jalan Ulu Tungku in Lahad Datu between February 9 and February 25, 2013.
He faces a jail term of up to 30 years and also liable to a fine if found guilty under Section 130E of the Penal Code.
Earlier, the court dismissed a preliminary objection raised by counsel Rowiena Rasad for Pabblo, who contended that the charge framed against his client was defective.
The judge ruled that the charge was properly drafted and consists of enough particulars to enable the accused (Pabblo) to proceed with the trial.
After reading the charge, the court held that there was no error or omission in the charge and there was no reason given as to how Pabblo was maybe misled by such error or omission.
The judge added that the charges were read to all the 30 accused persons before the previous presiding judge and counsel for the 30 accused did not object to a joint trial of this case.
Abdul Gani was assisted by deputy public prosecutors Abdul Wahad Mohamed, Ishak Mad Yusoff, Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, Cheng Heng Kher and Anati Kisahi while counsels Kamarudin Mohd Chinki, Ram Singh and YS Lo for Mohammad Ali; Sivananthan with counsel James Tsai, Stella Simon, Zaleha Mohd Yusof Pan, Majnah Abdillah and Teressa represented Ismail, Basad, Binhar, Anwar, Atik, Amirbahar, Salip, Dani, Saidali, Totoh, Basil, Rizman, Abdul Majil, Rijmal, Julham, Tani, Al Wazir, Virgilio, Masir, Aiman, Timhar, Holland, Lin, Norhaida, Kadir and Lating.

76. Two latest articles of concern

http://www.manilatimes.net/zamboanga-crisis-feared-to-spillover-into-sabah/38498/

Zamboanga crisis feared to spillover into Sabah

September 10, 2013 5:36 pm

FEARING that the on-going clashes in Zamboanga City might spillover into  Sabah,  the Malaysian armed forces have tightened security along the coastal boarders in the disputed territory.
Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) Director General Datuk Mohammad Mentek said the heightened security alert was issued to prevent the spillover of clashes into Sabah.
“Esscom is coordinating checks with our security forces following the incident,” Mohammad was quoted by Malaysian news agency Star Online.
He added that Malaysian security forces have taken up measures to strengthen the sea borders between Malaysia and Philippines.
But the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo spokesman Abraham Idjirani downplayed Malaysia’s apprehension that Misuari and his forces will try to escape towards Sabah.
“Nur Misuari is an enemy of the Malaysian government. If ever he will withdraw [from Zamboanga City], definitely it’s not in Sabah,” Idjirani said.
Idjirani noted that Misuari had escaped to Sabah during the failed rebellion of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Sulu and Zamboanga in 2001 but the Malaysian government quickly deported him to the Philippines.
Misuari had also openly supported the Sulu Sultanate during the Sabah crisis early this year and had even sent MNLF fighters to back up Kiram’s forces. Kiram and Misuari are both Tausugs.
Idjirani said the increased security around Sabah was confirmed on Monday night by Kiram’s brother, Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, who was still in Sabah commanding the 1,600-strong RSF unit that remained in the territory.
“He [Agbimuddin] called up last night to confirm that the Malaysian military in Sabah is on full alert. But he said they will not make any move and will remain in defensive posture only,” he said.
Idjirani said Agbimuddin sympathizes with Misuari’s cause but he deplored the use of violence, especially on the civilian population of Zamboanga City.
“The Sultanate and the RSF are focused in our own struggle to reclaim Sabah. We do not want outside interference,” the sultanate official added.
Sabah’s close proximity to the southern Philippines has raised fears that members of MNLF who have been laying siege  in Zamboanga City might escape towards Sabah to evade capture by the Philippine military. RITCHIE A. HORARIO

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=976648

15 Filipinos Held, 10 Million Pesos Seized Off Semporna

SEMPORNA, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Armed Forces' Joint Task Force (ATB 2) detained 15 trespassing Filipino men and seized 10 million pesos (about RM730,000) from them in an operation in the waters off Pulau Denawan, Semporna, early Tuesday.

The men, aged between 22 and 49, were held after the boat they were in was intercepted by a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) team of the ATB 2 at about 3 am, said ATB 2 Headquarters media relations officer Major Mohammed Fahmi Ishak.

"At about 12.30 am, a QRF team patrolling the Ops Pasir area received a tip-off about a boat near Pulau Denawan. The QRF team led by QRF Company chief Major Rozaimi Mohamad managed to intercept and stop the boat at 3 am," he said in a statement.

An inspection of the boat revealed that the Filipino men on board, including the crew, had valid travel documents and they had with them 10 million pesos in a bundle, apparently to buy foodstuff, especially rice, in Tawau.

"The boat had trespassed into the operational area, resulting in it being detained," Mohammed Fahmi said.

He said the boat was towed to the military jetty at the Azumi Camp in Semporna and a police report was lodged at the Semporna district police headquarters.

The arrested men were handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency for further action, he added.

-- BERNAMA

75. true kah ????

Monday, August 12, 2013

Sulu sultan claims followers killed 8 Malaysian troops

MANILA - The Sultanate of Sulu claimed yesterday that its forces led by a veteran guerrilla from Tawi-Tawi killed at least eight Malaysian soldiers in a shootout in Lahad Datu in Sabah.

Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said fighting broke out when a reconnaissance patrol of the Royal Sulu Sultanate Army chanced upon a squad of Malaysian Special Forces in the hinterlands of Felda, Lahad Datu.

“Rajah Muda (crown prince) told me that the Malaysian forces who were secretly deployed from Sarawak were sneaking towards their camp while they were conducting morning prayer,” he said.

Idjiirani said the 50 sultanate fighters led by veteran guerrilla Oto Ubi spotted the 200 Malaysian soldiers and ambushed them.

The sultanate fighters opened fire as soon as the Malaysian soldiers were exposed in an open field, he added.

No casualties were reported on the Sultanate army, he said.

Idjirani said the aborted surprise attack on the sultanate fighters was an indication that Malaysia has disregarded the holy month of Ramadan in running after them.

“The Malaysians want to strike while Rajah Muda and his group were conducting their morning prayers,” he said.

Idjirani said the encounter was not reported in the Malaysian media so as not to contradict a government announcement that Lahad Datu was already cleared of the sultanate forces and supporters.

Malaysia is now deploying troops from Sarawak because police and military forces in Sabah are reluctant to attack the sultanate forces, he added.

By Perseus Echeminada, The Philippine Star

74. Musa Aman said nothing to do with claim on Sabah

 Musa Aman should be SACKED long time ago.  He can be involved and use proxies in the hidden agenda,  Joshua

http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/06/26/cop-recounts-three-meetings-with-sulu-prince-in-tanduo/

Cop recounts three meetings with Sulu prince in Tanduo

by Suraini Andokong. Posted on June 26, 2013, Wednesday

KOTA KINABALU: In the trial of a policeman for failing to submit information relating to terrorism acts yesterday, a senior police officer testified that he met the self-styled crown prince of the Sultanate of Sulu, Datu Agbimuddin Kiram, thrice to inform him that he (Datu Agbimuddin) had violated the sovereignty of Malaysia.
Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) Zulkifli Abd Aziz, 53, told High Court judge Ravinthran N. Paramaguru that the meetings between him and Agbimuddin were held at a house in Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu.
“The first meeting was on February 14, 2013 at 2pm. I, together with my two personnel, namely, Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Zulhani Borhan and Corporal Salsagap, went to meet Agbimuddin after I managed to call him the next day after reaching Lahad Datu on February 13, 2013,” he testified during examination-in-chief by DPP Dato’ Nordin Hassan in the trial of the accused, detective corporal Hassan Hj Ali Basari, 58.
The accused, who was attached to the police special branch in Lahad Datu, is alleged to have committed the offence at the office of the special branch chief at Lahad Datu police station between January and March, 2013.
The offence under Section 130M of the Penal Code carries for a maximum jail of seven years or with a fine, or both, on conviction.
To a question from Nordin, the fourth prosecution witness recalled that during the first meeting he had informed Agbimuddin that his action to intrude into Kampung Tanduo with his followers was against Malaysian laws.
“After explaining to Agbimuddin, he thanked me for taking care of Sabah for the past 50 years and said that now is his turn to take care of Sabah,” said Zulkifli, who was then deputy chief of Sabah Special Branch 1.
Zulkifli, who is now the ESSCOM intelligence chief of staff, recalled further that during the first meeting Agbimuddin had given him five documents.
“After he gave me the five documents (which were tendered to the court and marked as exhibits), Agbimuddin said, he would not leave Kampung Tanduo until his brothers, namely, Datu Jamalul Kiram and Datu Ismail Kiram, told him to do so, as civilians had no authority to give him any instructions,” he said.
To another question from Nordin, Zulkifli testified that during their second meeting on February 15, 2013, at 11am, he, together with Datuk Rashid, ASP Noraidin, Inspector Yusri and corporal Salsagap had again advised Agbimuddin and his followers to leave Sabah.
“His response was the same and he said that he is a prince and only his brothers have the authority to tell him to leave Sabah,” Zulkifli recalled, adding that several documents were also given to him during the meeting.
On the third meeting, he said, they again failed to persuade Agbimuddin to leave Sabah immediately before any bloodshed happened and Agbimuddin replied that for them to die is just an ordinary thing as Sabah belonged to the Sultanate of Sulu.
“After that, I met the Sabah Police Chief to discuss this matter and I gave him a suggestion to resolve this crisis by scattering safe passage brochures in the area where Agbimuddin and his followers stayed to ask them to surrender,” he testified further, but none of them surrendered.
Zulkifli recalled that at the time Kampung Tanduo was under tight security where the area was guarded by Royal Sulu Force (RSF), who wore camouflage uniform, and armed with various weapons like M16, M14, Garren, Carbin, pistol and machetes.
In response to another question from Nordin, he said he had never revealed any information in the documentary exhibits orally or written.
He said the information in these documents involved national security.

When asked whether information obtained from several telephone interceptions had been submitted to him, he repleid: “That information was too important but I was never informed about it.”

73. Fear not weird deaths but..dead elephants???

http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/06/03/heart-attack-and-stroke-kill-cop-businessman/

Is there any link with this socalled "invasion" after the elephants death so near Lahad Datu and Tawau?