Updated version Police recovered six books published by the Al-Ma'unah group, an assortment of other literature and five T-shirts of the alleged cult from Bukit Jenalik, Sauk on July 6, the Kuala Lumpur High Court hearing the Al-Ma'unah "treason" trial heard this morning.

Investigating officer ASP Azman Salim said besides the other literature which included books on religion, electricity, radio and telegram procedures, police also recovered 347 empty ammunition casings, 31 parang, five cross-bows and 45 arrows.

"We also found clothing, including military uniforms and army fatigues and various insignias," Azman said in the High Court hearing which was held for the second day at a multi-purpose hall in the Pusat Latihan Polis (Pulapol - Police Training Centre) in Jalan Semarak as all the arms and other equipment in relation to this case are being kept there for safekeeping.

Azman was giving evidence in the case where the 29 members of the Al-Ma'unah group are accused 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, or a fine, 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 ([#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 has been reported that the group surrendered to the authorities on July 7 at Bukit Jenalik.

Rice and ikan bilis

Azman, continuing testifying from yesterday, said he also recovered 14 bags of rice and 21 cans of sambal ikan bilis (anchovy).

The Al-Ma'unah T-shirts recovered by police in Bukit Jenalik were green and had yellow collars. The logo of the group is incorporated in front and the words "Persatuan Al-Ma'unah" are printed at the back.

Azman also said he recovered one other T-shirt which carried the words "Silat Khalimah Mujahidin".

The personal clothing discovered in the area included one tooth brush, nine pairs of underwear, 13 robes, seven yellow waist talisman, a large number of T-shirts, 21 skull caps and six pairs of slippers and shoes.

To questions by deputy public prosecutor Salehhudin Saidin, Azman also said Corp Mohamad Abdullah gave him 981 rounds of ammunition on July 8.

"The bullets were also recovered in Bukit Jenalik and they were of the sizes 5.56mm and 7.62mm," he added.

All the items were then tendered to the court as exhibits.

Safekeeping

At the end of the trial today, justice Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin ordered the weapons, ammunition as well as the communication sets to be kept by the police for safekeeping.

He, however, allowed an application by senior deputy public prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail for some of the explosive ammunition to be handed to the army to be destroyed.

Gani had earlier requested for some of the ammunition to handed to the army to be destroyed as ammunition such as the 40mm cartridge used for the rocket launchers and the flare trip wires may be unstable as they were not kept in a specified condition.

He originally asked the court to allow all the other ammunition to be returned to the army as well since "they have a life span" and should be used before it expires.

The bullets should not be wasted and can at least be used by the military for training, Gani had said, adding that, "If kept here without any purpose, it will be a waste of public money."

This was, however, objected by a number of defence counsel who ventured that the ammunition should be kept and not disposed of as they could be needed to be tendered to the court at a later date.

The hearing continues at the Sultan Abdul Samad building on Monday morning.

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