Kota Kinabalu: The Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant against self-styled Sulu Sultan-cum-businessman and his two sons who were charged with rioting at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) two years ago when they failed to appear in court.
Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles issued the order against Datu Mohd Akjan Ali Muhammad (pic), Mahathir Datu Mohd Akjan and Mohd Ghazali Hanif Mohd Akjan following an application by the prosecution due to their absence when the case came up for further mention.
One of the sons was also supposed to be in court for a separate hearing involving drugs.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Dk Afiqah Alya who stood in for DPP Siti Hajar Mazlan told the court that all three accused were not present in court while their counsel was on medical leave.
Akjan, 64, Mahathir, 29, and Ghazali, 23, allegedly committed the offence along with two accomplices still at large at 7.45pm on Jan. 19, 2020 in front of the Malindo Air Counter at KKIA.
They had on July 16, 2020 pleaded not guilty to the charge under Section 147 of the Penal code, which carries imprisonment which may extend to seven years and also be liable to caning on conviction.
The three were released on court bail. Lovely set March 29 for mention and review of the warrant of arrest.
Meanwhile, the court also issued a warrant of arrest against Ghazali for not being present in court for the hearing of his drug case under Section 12 (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
DPP Dk Afiqah applied the warrant to be issued informing the court that Ghazali was not present in court as well as her counsel as she was on medical leave.
The court also fixed March 29 for mention and review of the warrant of arrest. The trio were represented by counsel Farazwin Haxdy.
