KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here yesterday heard that a police officer seized some money from an accused’s house in Beluran as he was of the opinion that the cash would be used to fund the Sulu gunmen, who allegedly intruded Kampung Tanduo.
In response to a question by counsel Korventt Wheezar E. Jomiji, who represented the accused, Pabblo Alie; Inspector Mohammad Azwan Abdul Wahab, 31, told Justice Stephen Chung that the cash that he seized was amounting to RM880 excluding the money in Yen, Peso and Brunei Dollar currencies.
Counsel: “Do you have evidence on that?”
Witness: “It was on what was briefed to me by ASP Zabidi Osman, who is the Beluran Special Branch Divisional chief).
To a suggestion by Korventt, the witness agreed as regard his evidence (money) that he did not put in the items in the search list that contained three Raya packets found inside a white envelope which he himself had provided to place those money.
Counsel: “At the point of marking the seize money and placing them inside the envelope it is convenient for you to include any items on items not seized from the house in the exhibits?”
Witness: “I disagree.”
To another question suggested by Korventt, the witness disagreed that the instruction he received from ASP Zabidi that Pabblo is a terrorist was just a rumor as items seized from the accused’s house such as parangs, barongs, amulets, handbooks, magic charms, sulu sultanate family heritage and card as well as photos were only used by the accused as a traditional medicine practitioner.
Counsel: “I put it to you that if it is true that Pabblo was involved with terrorist, he would not have come down to meet one of your men, who arrested him or had he something to hide?”
Witness: “I disagree.”
Counsel: “Pabblo would have had every opportunity to escape or run away when he saw your man but he did not do so?”
Witness: “Yes.”
The witness further disagreed to suggestion by the counsel that his version in court was only to create a version of guilt on Pabblo because on his briefing of Pabblo who was a murderer.
Pabblo was charged with two counts of waging war against the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and being a member of a terrorist group and was arrested at Kampung Muanad 1 in Beluran, Sandakan on March 4, 2013.
The other accused persons faced several charges of committing terrorism acts were Datu Amirbahar Hushin Kiram, a nephew of the late self-styled Datu Jamalul Kiram and 28 persons who allegedly committed the offences at several places in Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak and Sandakan between February 12 and April 10, 2013.
A number of them face the mandatory death sentence while the rest are liable for life imprisonment and a fine, upon conviction.
Meanwhile, in the afternoon proceedings, the 57th witness testified that his team had arrested two alleged Sulu gunmen, who passed by at their post at Tanjung Labian on March 4, 2013.
General Operation Force Support Corporal Mohd Asran Hj Mandung, 38, said that the two men were seen behaving suspiciously and seemed like looking for something when they passed their hiding post.
Under examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mad Yusoff, the witness said that as they were passing by the hiding post, the witness shouted “Berhenti. Pemeriksaan polis” (Stop. Police inspection) twice.
“I’m sure that they heard my voice because they were seen searching where the voice was coming from,” said the witness, who saw the two men through three holes in their hiding post.
The witness further said that his team had approached the two men who then stopped after the witness and team pointed M16 rifles at them.
“The men pulled a stunt and trembled and we carried out a body check on them while one of them threw a green plastic bag that I retrieved,” he said.
To a question by Ishak, the witness said that the plastic bag contained some fried fish.
The trial continues today.