‘I’m a scapegoat, not terrorist’

A policeman accused of involvement in the Kpg Tandao incident said he had reported every detail on the Sulu Sultanate and Lahad Datu to the officer on duty at the district special branch operations room.

KOTA KINABALU: A Lahad Datu Special Branch personnel who is accused of concealing information on terrorist activities in Lahad Datu early this year has declared that he is being made a scapegoat for the entire incident.

In his unsworn statement at the High Court here yesterday, detective corporal Hassan Ali Basari admitted he was aware that Datu Piah, a sibling of Jamalul Kiram III was in Lahad Datu on Feb 13.

He said on that day about 4pm, he was contacted by his informer, ‘Saluan Bin Bawa’ that Datu Piah was having a drink at an Indian restaurant near the AmBank building in town.

“I immediately went there and met an elderly man who was probably Datu Piah. I asked why he had come to Kampung Tanduo. He said they had come to claim the rights of the Sulu sultanate and to ask the Malaysian government to review the RM5,000 payment.

“He also said they wanted to claim Kampung Tanduo as their territory and would retaliate if attacked,” said Hassan Ali.

The accused was ordered to enter his defence by Justice P. Ravinthran who ruled on July 17 that the prosecution led by deputy public prosecutor Nordin Hassan had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against him.

Hassan Ali from Semporna is charged under Section 130M of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to seven years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

He also said he was informed by the man (Datu Piah) that they had made a written claim on Sabah to the Malaysian authorities and United Nations.

“He also told me that the Malaysian government had long been aware of their claim before they came to Kampung Tanduo,” he said.

According to Hassan Ali, he informed the police personnel on duty at the Lahad Datu Special Branch operations room about his meeting with the man.

“But I did not make a written report because at the time I was still on leave and the next day (Feb 14) I went to Kota Kinabalu to prepare for my son’s engagement,” he said.

‘I executed my duty’

Hassan Ali insisted that he was not a terrorist and had nothing to do with the Lahad Datu intrusion committed by the Sulu sultanate:

“In fact, I had executed my duty as a special branch personnel to carry out intelligence operations as ordered on the activities of Datu Ismail Kiram’s followers,” he said.

The accused said his colleagues were also involved in the intelligence operations and had the same information on the Sulu sultanate and its threat on Sabah.

“If the Sabah special branch chief said he did not receive any information from the district special branch chief, it meant the other personnel had not reported the information.

“The essence of the charge against me is without basis and intended to implicate me; actually the Sabah police contingent headquarters (IPK) in Kepayan had known about the intrusion earlier than me, before it happened on Feb 12, 2013,” he contended.

He said every information on the Sulu sultanate obtained from external sources and around Lahad Datu town was reported to the officer on duty at the district special branch operations room.

Hassan Ali said since serving as a special branch detective in 1975 he had never received any orders from the Sabah special branch chief or Lahad Datu special branch head to report all the information received, in writing.

The accused admitted making phone calls to the Philippines, on the orders of his superior to obtain information from another of his informer, ‘Istino Bin Jair’.

He said on Feb 21, he contacted Istino by telephone and was informed that Datu Ismail Kiram’s plan to claim Sabah was definite and that the Suluk community from Basilan, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi were prepared to assist Datu Ismail Kiram.

‘Not my voice’

He said on Feb 28, he was informed by Istino that Datu Ismail Kiram had held a meeting with followers of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in San Rocky, Zamboanga.

“I did tell my supervisor about the two telephone calls and he then channeled the information to the Sabah IPK special branch in Kepayan.

“I also called up my informer, ‘Abdul Rajan’ who worked at the Integrated National Police (INP) in Basilan, Philippines and he disclosed to me that there were three groups, Basilan, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi but the group from Basilan did not abet Datu Ismail Kiram,” he said.

On the transcription by ‘protected witness 2′ of a telephone conversation between him and ‘Sabah man’, Hassan Ali said it was fake and concocted.

“The recording of my telephone call with the Sabah man was not tendered in court by the prosecution. It should have been tendered to prove the authenticity of the conversation and my voice.

“I contend that the transcription of my conversation was fake and intended to trap and make me the scapegoat in the case.

“I am not related to Hassan who was mentioned in the recorded conversation between Datu Amir Baha and Raja,” he said.

The accused who allegedly committed the offence at the district special branch chief’s office in Lahad Datu between January and March 3 this year was represented by counsel Ram Singh, Kamarudin Mohd Chinki, Syaiful Sufyyan Sidin and Lo Yun Sin. The trial has been adjourned to Aug 2.

-Bernama