Updated version A police statement given by a hostage on the killing of two security personnel by Al-Ma'unah members was tendered as a witness's statement at the treason trial of 29 Al-Ma'unah members at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

In the statement, Jaafar Puteh identified Al-Ma'unah leader Mohd Amin Mohd Razali as the person who killed hostage R Sagadevan, a police Special Branch officer, by firing two shots from an M-16 rifle to his head.

He also stated that he saw an unidentified gang member kill Army Ranger Mattew Medan by shooting him in the back on instructions from Amin.

The statement was tendered by the prosecution in place of direct evidence as Jaafar had died on July 18.

Jaafar, a villager from Sauk, was taken hostage on July 4 by the Al-Ma'unah members who were hiding out at Bukit Jenalik, Sauk, after allegedly making of with a cache of high-powered arms from two army installations in Grik on July 2.

Jaafar had given two statements to the police on July 8 and 10, recorded by ASP M Indraraja and ASP Baharom Abu respectively.

Shot dead

Relating the killing of Mattew which took place on July 4, Jaafar said in his statement he was being made to dig a hole when the captured soldier (Mattew) was brought to the group's base.

"His leg was bleeding when he was brought before Mohd Amin. Amin asked him if there were any more soldiers with him to which Mattew replied that he was alone," said Jaafar in the statement.

"I then heard Amin instructing his men to shoot Mattew who was then shot from behind."

Jaafar said in his statement that he could not identify the person who shot Mattew as he (the killer) was wearing a balaclava.

The 29 Al-Ma'unah members are charged under section 121 of the Penal Code for waging war against the Yang diPertuan Agong, an offence which carries the sentence of death or life imprisonment or a fine on conviction.

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 at Bukit Jenalik, Sauk, all in Perak. ([#1]Twenty-nine Al-Ma'unah members claim trial[/#], Aug 9).

Gunfire exchanged

On the murder of Sagadevan, Jaafar said in his statement that on July 5, he saw Mohd Amin and another Al Ma'unah gang member walking towards a stream when they were suddenly shot at by army soldiers.

"The man with Mohd Amin went down and Amin started shouting at his men to shoot back and also to shoot Sagadevan," he said.

"When no one fired at Sagadevan, Mohd Amin himself went to Sagadevan and shot him twice. Sagadevan's skull and brain matter splattered beside me," said Jaafar.

He said he and another hostage, Sergeant Detective Mohd Shah Ahmad were rescued by security personnel on July 6.

Injured soldier

Another witness, Sergeant Ukoon Pungkok, told the court that he was a member of the Unit Combat Intelligence Squad (Ucis) which had formed an inner cordon surrounding the Al-Ma'unah base camp.

He said that at about 7.45am on July 4, while conducting a reconnaissance, he was shot in his left shoulder.

He said prior to being shot, he had heard the enemy shooting at army soldiers using general purpose machine guns (Gpmg), grenade launchers and M-16 rifles.

"They had also launched a grenade towards the main road linking Grik and Kuala Kangsar," he added.

The prosecution's 48th witness, Lance Corp Zainol Mansor testified that Mattew went missing after a reconnaissance with his team at the enemy camp at about 11.35am on July 4.

"We were spotted and fired upon. We took cover and retreated to a location we had earlier identified to regroup. But Mattew never came to that location," he said.

Mattew's platoon launched a search and rescue operation for him the next day during which they again came close to the enemy's base camp.

Enemy down

"An enemy in army fatigues and a green beret came very close to us. I told him to surrender but he fired at us while trying to hide behind a durian tree," said Zainol..

"I fired two shots at him and saw him falling to the ground. I again fired another two shots at him. By now, his friends were already firing on us using rifles and grenade launchers," he said, adding that they then retreated for the place.

Hearing before Justice Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin continues tomorrow.