Eight people from the southern Philippines were charged with engaging in terrorism and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before a magistrate who sat at the district police headquarters in Lahad Datu today.  

azlan The males aged between 17 and 66, were charged under Section 130KA of the Penal Code for being members of a terrorist group, for which the penalty is life imprisonment.

They also faced another charge, under Section 121 of the same Act, for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, for which the penalty, upon conviction, is death.

No plea was recorded after they were charged before sessions court judge Amelati Parnell, who sat as a magistrate.

azlan The prosecution was represented by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar and head of the Prosecution Division (Policy) Nordin Hassan, both of whom are from the Attorney-General’s Chambers in Putrajaya.

Mohd Dusuki told reporters later that the case was ordered transferred to the High Court in Tawau.

He said all the eight were investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

Also present in court today was attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail.

The district police headquarters was placed under a tight cordon by heavily armed security forces personnel.

- Bernama

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