(AFP) Nineteen members of an Islamic cult were today found guilty of treason for planning a "holy war" to oust Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and could now face the death penalty.

Judge Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin announced to a packed High Court that he was satisfied the prosecution had proven the guilt of the leader of the Al-Ma'unah cult, Mohamed Amin Mohamed Razali, and his 18 followers.

He rejected claims by the other 18 members during the 14-month trial that they were coerced by Mohamed Amin into participating in the plot.

"It is inconceivable that (Mohamed Amin) could have watched and controlled all the other defendents at all times to stop them from leaving," he said.

"This shows that all the defenders intended to join Mohamed Amin."

'Waging war'

The formal charge against the group was of "waging war" against the king, but the court was told during the months of evidence after the trial started in September 2000 that the cult planned a "holy war" to oust Mahathir.

Defense counsel Karpal Singh said the cult members were "misguided" and pleaded for clemency in the case which he said was the first of the kind in the country.

"Let the court be reminded today that the execution of a brother is irreversible. Therefore I appeal that the lesser of the two judgements which is life imprisonment be imposed," he said.

One of the men found guilty, Ibrahim Dris, 45, said he did not deserve to die for his crimes because he lost the ability to think clearly after joining the cult to learn more about Islam.

"I joined the Al-Ma'unah to learn about my religion. I appeal to the court not to impose the death penalty," a weeping Ibrahim, a father of six children said. "We were confused."

The martial arts cult, which taught members they were invulnerable to bullets, sparked the country's biggest security alert for decades in July 2000 when they disguised themselves as soldiers and stole more than 100 weapons from two military armouries.

Jungle hideout

They then retreated to a jungle hideout where they broadcast calls over army radio for Mahathir to quit. They surrendered following a four-day standoff with some 2,000 troops after murdering a policemen and a soldier whom they had held hostage.

The court adjourned to tomorrow where defence lawyers would continue their plea for mitigation before sentence is passed later in the day.

Mohamed Amin, 29, and his co-accused remained calm as the judge announced the guilty verdict.

Ten cult members earlier pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of preparing to wage war and were jailed for 10 years each. Sentences on two were reduced to seven years on appeal.

Bernama news agency identified the 17 others as: Zahit Muslim, 42; Jamaludin Darus, 40; Jemari Jusoh, 32; Kamarudin Mustafar, 41; Abdul Ghani Ali alias Ahmad, 35; Idris Anas, 43; Mohamed Faudzi Hamdan, 40; Nasruddin Mohamed Jailani, 36; Ahmad Sarkawi Sulong, 30; Zainal Mohamed Jailani, 35; Mohamed Zaini Mohamed Zainal, 26; Mohamed Ramly Mohamood, 47; Che Sabri Che Jaafar, 31; Mohamed Bukhari Ismail, 29; Suhaimi Hasbullah, 41; Mohamad Amin Othman, 42; and Yunus Hussin, 52.