Eight Filipinos charged with waging war

Eight Filipinos, who are facing the death penalty and life imprisonment upon conviction, were charged at the High Court here with waging war on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and being members of a terrorist group.

Yesterday, the eight foreigners were charged at the Magistrate's Court, which held a special session at the Lahad Datu District Police Headquarters, and the case was ordered to be transferred to the Tawau High Court today.

No plea was recorded before judge P.Ravinthran.

They were placed under tight security throughout the proceedings and seven of them had to wear the straight jacket.

All of them, aged between 17 and 66, were charged with waging war on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong under Section 121 of the Penal Code.

On the second count of being members of a terrorist group, they were charged under Section 130KA of the same code which carries a life imprisonment and a fine upon conviction.

The original charge in the Malay language was translated into two languages, namely Bajau and Suluk.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail led the prosecution team, assisted by the Head of the Trial and Appeal Division, Datuk Nordin Hassan and Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, both from the Attorney-General's Chambers, Putrajaya.

The court set April 12 for mention to find out the developments on the Attorney-General's discussion to appoint counsels for the accused, whether they would be appointed by the Bar Council, the Philippine government or the accused themselves.