KOTA KINABALU: A Bukit Aman Special Branch (SB) officer believed that a handphone he seized from a car in Jalan Lihak-Lihak in Semporna on March 13, 2013 belonged to his superior who was killed in an ambush at Kampung Simunul 11 days earlier, the High Court here heard today.
Testifying in the trial of 30 individuals linked to the Lahad Datu intrusion two years ago, Insp Holib Wan Ahmad said he discovered a black Samsung Note 2 handphone among old clothes in a green plastic bag that was in the boot of a Perodua Viva in which three accused — Basil Samiul, Rizman Gulan and Abdul Majil Jubin — were among its passengers.
“I referred to ASP Wan Kamal Rizal Wan Daud (operations coordinating
officer) on the discovery of the handphone (Samsung Note 2) and he explained that the handphone belonged to the late Supt Ibrahim Lebar,” he said when cross-examined by counsel Datuk N. Sivananthan.
Sivananthan: To the best of your knowledge, how many handphones did the late Supt Ibrahim Lebar have?
Holib: In my knowledge, only one.
Sivananthan: Is it your evidence that the only handphone he (Ibrahim) had was a Samsung Note 2?
Holib: Yes.
Sivananthan: Do you agree with me that this Samsung Note 2 handphone is similar to any other Samsung Note 2 handphone sold in this colour (black)?
Holib: Yes.
Holib told the court that nobody who travelled in the Viva — five adults (four men and a woman) and four children — claimed ownership of the handphone.
He also informed his operation team leader ASP Budy Jurman Osman of the handphone, but believed he (Budy Jurman) must have forgotten about it due to the time constraint while carrying out other assignments.
The SB officer also told investigating officer ASP Zairolnizal Ishak that he believed the handphone belonged to the late Ibrahim.
Zairolnizal appeared shocked and told the witness that the matter would be investigated, he added.
In the dock are 27 Filipinos and three local residents who are facing one to multiple charges of being members of a terrorist group, waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, recruiting members for a terrorist group or wilfully harbouring individuals they knew to be members of a terrorist group.
They allegedly committed the offences between Feb 12 and April 10, 2013.
The hearing before Justice Stephen Chung continues tomorrow at the Sabah Prisons Department. -BERNAMA