Accused: I came to Sabah after promised a job
Published on: Saturday, April 16, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: An accused in the Lahad Datu intrusion trial surrendered after his friend was shot dead in a skirmish between the intruders and security forces, the High Court here heard Friday.Virgilio Nemar Patulada alias Mohammad Alam Patulada, a Filipino, said he was walking in front of his friend in a line, at the end of which was a man armed with a rifle, when security forces opened fire at them.In the crossfire at Kampung Tanduo on March 1, 2013, his friend was hit while the man with the rifle fled.
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"I saw Pedro fall after being hit by shots from the security forces. I thought to myself this is my chance to surrender and I ran towards them (security forces), raising both my hands," he said in his defence trial.Patulada, 52, testified in Bajau, which was then translated by a court interpreter.He is accused of waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during the armed intrusion at Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu in 2013.According to him, he had followed the intruders to Kampung Tanduo after being promised a job in Sabah.
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He realised that the intruders' real intention was to wage war against Malaysia after leaflets in Suluk with messages of 'Dan Gumuwa' or safe passage were dropped from a helicopter and scattered all over Kampung Tanduo.He also saw a man being shot dead after challenging one of the armed intruders to shoot him if he ran away from the village.
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"He (intruder) said to the man, 'if you run away, I will shoot you dead' and the man said, 'shoot me if you dare'.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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