Ulu Tiram attack: Suspect's dad expressed regret son didn't 'take him along', witness says

The father of Radin Luqman Radin Imran, the suspect in the 2024 Ulu Tiram police station attack, expressed regret that his son had not “taken him along”, while the mother expressed “relief” upon learning of his death, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.

Police officer Cassidy Anak Banta, in his witness testimony before judge Nurulhuda Nur’aini Nor today, recounted his experience breaking the news of the suspect’s death after the May 17 incident.

Cassidy said he led a team of more than 50 police personnel to Luqman’s house in Kampung Sungai Tiram that day, at around 7am, four hours after the attack, upon receiving instructions to make an arrest and seizure.

The team was greeted by Luqman’s father, Radin Imran Radin Yassin, who opened the door. Imran confirmed the suspect was his son and that his son was not home.

Cassidy said he searched the house, taking note of its occupants and items of interest such as air rifles.

“I further inspected the entire house and found one Malay male and three Malay females in the living room of the house.

“My further inspection of the house led me to find several air rifles and PVC pipes in the third room (a storeroom).

“I informed the house occupants, who were Luqman’s family members, about the attack carried out by the deceased, which resulted in the deaths of two police officers and Luqman himself in the incident,” he said.

The suspect’s mother, Rosna Jantan, then said, “Alhamdulillah, baguslah tu” (Praise be to God, that’s good) while Imran said, “Saya cuma kesal kerana dia tidak ajak saya ikut bersama” (I’m just sorry he didn’t take me along).

However, in the courtroom today, Rosna was seen shaking her head while her husband was seen covering his face with his hand as they listened to Cassidy’s testimony.

“The suspects’ parents were standing quite close (to one another and) to me. So I clearly heard their expression,” the police officer told deputy public prosecutor Yazid Mustaqim Roslan during examination-in-chief.

Returning to his testimony, Cassidy further said that he then arrested Imran and his family members, including his wife, as well as Romyullah, Mariah, and Farhah Sobrina, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, for suspicion of involvement in the case.

“I have also informed the reasons for the arrest in Malay, which were understood by the accused,” he said.

Cassidy said authorities also seized four phones belonging to Rosna, Romyullah, Farhah Sobrina, and Mariah during the raid, as well as three exercise books, a translated Al-Quran, and a green book with “Shariat-Minhaj-Ujian” written on its front page.

The authorities also seized four air rifles, as well as nine PVC pipes between 39cm and 122cm, which were believed to be used to make long air rifles, as well as a bag containing 42 marbles, on the same day.

Officer recalls arriving at attack scene

Earlier today, Cassidy, who testified as the fifth prosecution witness, recounted his memories of being one of the earliest officers who arrived at the scene two years ago, after receiving calls about the incident at around 3.30am.

“I waited outside the (police station) while armed tactical teams arrived at the scene. My team and I had entered the police station compound after we received the signal around dawn.

“As we entered the scene, I saw three bodies lying around. One was dressed in a police uniform, found at the station’s motorcycle parking lot, while two more bodies were found by the fence, near the police armoured car in front of the station.

“One of the bodies found by the fence was wearing a police operation uniform while the other was in civilian clothes,” Cassidy testified.

The witness also said his investigation of a motorcycle found at the scene, believed to be the suspect’s, led to the location of the suspect’s family’s house.

The case, which entered its fourth day of trial, was adjourned and will continue on April 27.

Family faces multiple terror-related charges

Imran, 64, his wife, and children were charged on June 19, 2024.

He was charged with four counts: promoting terrorist ideology, supporting terrorist acts, possessing firearms for terrorism-related activities, and possessing a book linked to a terrorist group.

Rosna, 62, was charged with one count of failing to provide information related to terrorist ideology, while her son, Romyullah, 36, was charged with two counts of providing support and possessing materials related to the Daesh group.

Meanwhile, Farhah and Mariah, 25 and 21 respectively, were charged with deliberately failing to provide information related to terrorist ideology.

All five accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, which they were alleged to have committed at a house in Kampung Sungai Tiram, Johor Bahru, between April 2017 and May 17, 2024.

Ulu Tiram attack: Trial of suspect's family members to begin Oct 22

Ulu Tiram attacker's sister charged with failing to report violent ideology

Ulu Tiram attacker's brother denies supporting Islamic State

Cleaner jailed, fined for defaming cop killed in attack on Ulu Tiram police station