Two orchard owners in Bukit Jenalik, Sauk, said they were denied entry into their land by armed men in army fatigues in early July, who claimed that the place was dangerous and under curfew, the High Court hearing the Al-Ma'unah "treason" trial was told this afternoon.

Both Low Bak Kee and Lau Kok Yan had tried to enter their orchards individually and were stopped by men who were armed with "guns", with at least one of them wearing a red headgear.

The orchard owners, speaking through a Chinese interpreter, said they could not recognise the men.

Low said he first went to his orchard, in which he had durian and rubber trees, at about 7.30am on July 1 and on his way saw three covered vehicles parked inside.

"I could just see a little bit of the vehicles and they were green in colour. I am not sure of their model but they looked like Pajero," he said, adding that his orchard was located behind Sek Keb Jenalik, Sauk.

He said when he went to his orchard the next day at about the same time he was stopped by two armed men who told him that he could not go inside.

"They were both Malay men, one with a headgear. They said I could not go in as the place was dangerous," said Low, adding that he was stopped at a place where the vehicles were parked.

He said that the next day, he was again stopped by two men from entering his orchard. However, he added, he was unsure if the men were the same as those the previous day.

Lau, whose orchard is located by the side of the school, said he was denied entry into his orchard by two armed men at about 6am on July 2.

"I don't know what race these men were but they spoke in Bahasa Malaysia,"said Lau.

Under curfew

He added that he was told he could not enter into his orchard as the place was under curfew.

"However, at about 12.30pm the same day, I was allowed into my orchard to pick durians but only for one hour," he said.

Lau said he was not sure if the two men who allowed him in the afternoon were the same as those in the morning, adding that he was again denied entry the next day.

They were both testifying at the trial in which 29 Al-Ma'unah members are being charged under Section 121 of the Penal Code for waging war or abetting to wage war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. If found guilty,they could face a punishment of death, or life sentence with fine.

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 [#1](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. It was widely reported that some of them were arrested on July 6 after surrendering at Bukit Jenalik.

Public information

Another witness, Kuala Kangsar special branch chief ASP Abdul Rahman Ishak, said he received information from villagers on July 3 about gun-shots being fired in Bukit Jenalik.

"The Kuala Kangsar chief inspector and I investigated the matter by speaking to the villagers at about 12.30am the same day," he said.

"I then briefed my men and at about 9.30am asked Corp Det Abdullah Jaafar and Corp Det R Sagadevan to conduct an investigation in the Bukit Jenalik area. Sergeant Det Mohd Shah Ahmad was to follow them from behind," he said.

He said only Mohd Shah was armed, adding that at about 1pm the same day, Abdullah informed him that the other two policemen have not returned from their investigations.

"I discovered at about 7pm that they were being held hostage by a group of men," he said.

When asked if he knew what happened to Sagadevan, Abdul Rahman said he was shot dead, without elaborating any further.

The hearing before justice Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin continues tomorrow.