Police compiling evidence on mastermind of Lahad Datu intrusion

KOTA KINABALU, April 9 – The police are still gathering evidence to charge the mastermind of the intrusion by militants in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu and Semporna, since last February, in court.

Sabah police commissioner, Datuk Hamza Taib said, investigation was focused on solving the case based on statements of those detained before charging the mastermind in court.

“We are not saying this person (individual detained) is involved or the mastermind or killer in the shooting of members of the security forces on March 2 but we have statements of those who had been detained and charged. Mastermind or not, we will investigate under the existing law,” he said at a press conference at the Kota Kinabalu Police Headquarters, here, today.

Asked if the suspected mastermind was a Malaysian, Hamza was not able to confirm.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was quoted in a local newspaper today as saying, a third party who masterminded the intrusion of terrorists loyal to Jamalul Kiram III in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu and several other locations in Sabah had been identified, but evidence was needed to bring them to the face of justice.

On the detention of 32 individuals who tried to intrude into Sabah waters in a boat, about 12 nautical miles from Tambisan, Lahad Datu early yesterday morning, he said, all the men, aged between 17 to 72, were being held at the Sandakan District Police Headquarters.

Hamza said, no fights had erupted between the security forces and terrorists in all districts and there were no reports of intrusion by armed terrorists in the state.

In the meantime, he said, the security forces were still looking for the bodies of three terrorists who were killed on March 1. – Bernama