Mar 20, 2013-Eight people from the southern Philippines were charged in the magistrate’s court, which sat at the district police headquarters in Lahad Datu, with engaging in terrorism and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
All of them, males aged between 17 and 66, were charged under Section 130KA of the Penal Code for being members of a terrorist group, for which the penalty is life imprisonment, and under Section 121 of the same act for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, for which the penalty is death, upon conviction.No plea was recorded after they were charged before Sessions Court Judge Amelati Parnell, who sat as a magistrate.
The prosecution was represented by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar and deputy head of the Prosecution Division (Policy) Nordin Ahmad, both of whom are from the Attorney-General’s Chambers in Putrajaya.
Mohd Dusuki told reporters it had been ordered that the case be transferred to the Tawau High Court.
He said all of them were investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.
Also present in court was the attorney-general, Abdul Gani Patail.
The district police headquarters was placed under a tight cordon by heavily armed security forces personnel.
BERNAMA
