The High Court hearing the "treason" trial was told today that the Al-Ma'unah members had attacked a Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) cable tower with a grenade launcher in Lata Kekabu, Lenggong, Perak, causing some damage to the tower.

Chief Inspector Zulkifli Abdul Ghani said he was asked by his superior on Aug 9, almost one month after the threat posed by the Al-Ma'unah group was neutralised through their capture and surrender, to investigate the attack on the tower.

"ASP Azman Salim told me that the group had attacked the tower and I went to the place with some of my men," he said.

Investigations on that day revealed that two insulators at the tower were damaged, said Zulkifli to questions by deputy public prosecutor Tun Majid Tun Hamzah.

Zulkifli also noted that they did not find any spent bullets, adding that he did not find anything on his second visit to the place the next day.

Zulkifli was testifying in the trial of 29 Al-Ma'unah members are charged under section 121 of the Penal Code for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which carries the punishment of death or life sentence if found guilty of waging war or abetting to wage war in the country.

They are alleged to have committed the offence between June and July 6 at Pos 2, Km 19, Kuala Rui, Jalanraya Timur-Barat, Grik; Batalion 304, Infantri (AW), Kem Grik, Grik; and in Bukit Jenalik, Sauk, all in Perak (Twenty-nine Al-Ma'unah members claim trial, Aug 9).

They are alleged to have stolen a cache of weapons and ammunition from two military camps by impersonating army officers in the early hours of July 2. A majority of them were arrested on July 6 after they surrendered at Bukit Jenalik.

Zulkifli said that on Aug 12, he again went to the site and this time he was accompanied by ASP Mohd Koey Abdullah and his men from the Northern Bomb Unit and a TNB staff.

Shells found

"On that day we found three M-16 shells by the tower. There were also some pieces of broken glasses from the damaged insulators," he said.

He added that he visited the site again on Aug 15 and was informed by the accompanying TNB staff that there was some damage to the steel bars of the tower.

"I climbed the tower to investigate and noticed that the damage could have been caused as a result of being hit by a grenade launcher."

There was also some damage to the optic cables, said Zulkifli, adding that police discovered a used grenade shell below the tower.

To a question by defence counsel Kitson Foong, Zulkifli disagreed that he only suspected the involvement of the Al-Ma'unah gang in the attack.

In answering questions by justice Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, Fadzil said the tower was located about 20 to 25km from the group's hideout in Bukit Jenalik.

"It is about 15 minutes' drive from Bukit Jenalik to Lata Kekabu," he said.

Wounded member arrested

Another witness, ASP Salleh Hanipah, said that he had arrested one of the defendants, Shahidi Ali, in Paka, Dungun, Terengganu on July 6 for his suspected involvement with the group.

Witness Inspector Ismail Jaafar testified that he had arrested a wounded Al-Ma'unah member as soon as that man was escorted down to Sek Keb Jenalik from Bukit Jenalik at about 4.20pm on July 6.

The accused, identified as Megat Mohd Hanafi Ilias, was wounded on his left shoulder, said Ismail.

All other 26 members of the group who were captured or had surrendered at Bukit Jenalik had already been identified amongst the 29 defendants through another witness in a previous hearing.

The hearing did not continue in the afternoon as the Attorney-General's chambers wanted time to study representations made by several defence counsel for the charge against their clients to be reconsidered.

The hearing continues tomorrow.
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