Intrusion leader wanted to become ‘Sabah sultan’, court told

Lahad Datu intrusion leader Datu Agbimuddin Kiram wanted to become ‘sultan of Sabah’ if the so-called Sulu sultanate could claim the state from Malaysia, the High Court in Kota Kinabalu heard today.

Salib Akhmad Emali, 63, a Filipino, being tried in the 2013 intrusion case, said Agbimuddin was always in dispute with his older brother, Esmail Kiram regarding the claim on Sabah.

“I have only heard of his name (Agbimuddin). The people have spoken about him.

“Only in this court did I realise who he was,” he said in the Suluk language. His testimony was translated by a court interpreter.

Salib Akhmad was entering his defence on two charges of being a member of a terrorist group and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during the armed intrusion at Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu.

To a question by deputy public prosecutor Jamil Aripin during cross-examination, the accused said he was never involved in recruiting members to join the so-called Royal Sulu Force in Sabah, in preparation to take control of the state in case negotiations on the claim failed.

He also said he never knew of any so-called Sulu sultan except Esmail whom he met in 2012.

Thirteen Filipinos and a local are entering their defence before Justice Stephen Chung at the Sabah Prisons Department for various offences allegedly committed between Feb 12 and April 10, 2013.

Some of the accused are facing one to multiple charges of being members of a terrorist group and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Others are alleged to have wilfully harboured individuals they knew to be members of a terrorist group, or solicited or gave support to a terrorist group.

The hearing continues tomorrow.

-Bernama