Father and son linked to 'Kiram family' arrested
Published on: Friday, January 30, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: A father and his son believed to be linked to a Sulu Sultan from the 'Kiram family' were arrested at a restaurant in Lahad Datu, the High Court here was told Thursday.Lahad Datu Criminal Investigation Division (CID) officer, Inspector Abdul Mutalib Harun, said Habil Suhaili and his son Timhar were detained with eight other men at Restoran Rahmat at Bandar Wilayah in the town centre of Lahad Datu.The duo are being tried with 28 other accused for the armed intrusion allegedly led by Datu Agbimuddin Kiram at Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu in February 2013.
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Testifying as the prosecution's 68th witness, Abdul Mutalib said he received information on the men from a source at about 10am on Feb 18, 2013."At about 11am, we cordoned off the restaurant and I approached the table around where 10 men were sitting and having a drink."I introduced myself as a police officer and showed my authority card; I told the 10 men that they were going to be questioned," he said.Asked by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar as to the men's reaction, the witness said they looked displeased and some of them tried to get up from their seats.
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"I told them to sit down and to cooperate with the police," he said.The CID officer said the men had earlier been discussing in a language unfamiliar to him; an envelope was on the table in front of Timhar.
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Abdul Mutalib told the court that a body search on the men found that eight, including Habil and Timhar, did not have any identification documents while two possessed Malaysian identity cards (IC).He said he then instructed the 10 men to get inside a police vehicle which would take them to a police station at the Lahad Datu Marine Police Base."Some of them expressed resentment at being asked to get inside the police vehicle and asked what wrong had they done."I told them to give their cooperation and let police carry out their inspection. Eventually they relented and went inside the police vehicle," he said, adding that the men were not handcuffed.The witness said the men were brought to a hall at the Marine Police Base where they underwent scrutiny."There was a badge in the shape of a star on Timhar's shirt, and an envelope in his hand contained several certificates."Impressed on the certificates were, 'Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram'; there was also a 'Certificate of Appointment' naming Timhar as one of Sultan Muedzul Lail's noblemen," he said.In the dock are 27 Filipinos and three local residents who are facing one to multiple charges of being members of a terrorist group, 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. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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