Accused: Issuance of IDs led me to switch allegiance
Published on: Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: A Filipino accused in the Lahad Datu intrusion trial told the High Court here Tuesday that his allegiance to the so-called sultan Esmail Kiram changed following a misunderstanding between the latter and his brother, Datu Agbimuddin.Tani Lahaddahi, 63, said the so-called Sulu sultan was supposed to issue identification documents (IDs) to the Filipino Suluk community in Sabah, but Datu Agbimuddin had instructed him to do it."As far as I know, only the Philippine government could issue the IDs. "That was why I left Sultan Esmail because I was afraid I would get caught when issuing the IDs," he said in the Suluk language and translated by a court interpreter. ADVERTISEMENT Tani was entering his defence on a charge of being a member of a terrorist group and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during an armed intrusion at Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu in 2013.The accused, who was testifying as the 14th witness in the defence trial, told the court that in 2001, he supported Esmail as sultan and was appointed a 'panglima'.However, Tani said due to the misunderstanding between Esmail and Agbimuddin, he left Esmail in 2003 and became a follower of another so-called sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, who also made him a 'panglima' in 2010.His appointment by both 'sultans' were made in Jolo, in the Philippines, and not in Sabah, he added.ADVERTISEMENT "What I know is that a 'panglima' is like a leader, a representative of the (Suluk) people. But a 'panglima' has no power, no role to play and holds no rank."As a 'panglima', I was not given any job to do, I had no office nor salary. I was just called a 'panglima'," he explained.
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Thirteen Filipinos and a local are entering their defence before Justice Stephen Chung at the Sabah Prison Department for various offences allegedly committed between Feb 12 and April 10, 2013.Some of the accused are facing one to multiple charges of being members of a terrorist group and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Others are alleged to have wilfully harboured individuals they knew to be members of a terrorist group, or solicited or gave support to a terrorist group.The hearing continues today (Wednesday).