KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here heard yesterday that the policeman, who is being tried for an offence in connection with the Sulu terrorist intrusion in the east coast of Sabah, had been informed of a group of foreigners entering the state through Semporna.
The protected witness, who testified from a witness room, told the court that he went to meet Detective Corporal Hassan Ali Basari in January to inform him of the matter.
Hassan, 55, from Semporna, was charged with voluntarily withholding information on terrorism activities at the office of the Special Branch chief, Lahad Datu Police Headquarters, between January and March 3 this year.
The charge, under Section 130M of the Penal Code, carries a jail term of up to seven years or a fine or both upon conviction.
The witness said he was approached by 20 men, in orange gear with stripes, at Bongao, in the Philippines, looking for a boat that could take them to Simunul in Semporna.
He said he noticed the words ‘Royal Sulu Force’ printed on their garments.
He also said he heard the men chatting among themselves in the Suluk language and discovered that 1,500 men were converging at Simunul.
The witness said he heard the reason they were gathering at Simunul was to enter Sabah as they wanted to claim the state.
He told the court that he warned the accused to not ignore the information.
The accused was represented by counsel Kamarudin Mohamad Chinki and Ram Singh, while Datuk Nordin Hassan led the prosecution. Also present were the accused’s wife and two children.
The trial before Justice P Ravinthran continues today. — Bernama