KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here heard that one of two wives of an accused in the Lahad Datu intrusion trial did not know that her husband was facing the death sentence, if convicted of the charge.
The woman told the court that she was only made to understand that her husband was in cahoots with a group of Sulu gunmen who intruded into Kampung Tanduo in February 2013.
She is one of the wives of Mohamad Ali Ahmad, one of the accused in the Lahad Datu intrusion trial, who is testifying as a protected witness.
“I do not know about the penalty. What I knew and what I saw was that his (Mohamad Ali) action was helping the Sulu gunmen,” she said through a court interpreter who wore earphones to follow her testimony.
She said this when re-examined by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar in the trial of 30 individuals linked to the intrusion.
Mohd Dusuki had asked her to elaborate on her answer when questioned by counsel Kamarudin Mohamad Chinki that she would not have wanted to testify against her husband had she known he was facing a death penalty.
Mohamad Ali is charged with committing treason by waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, an offence which carries the death sentence upon conviction; and being a member of a terrorist group, which is punishable with life imprisonment and fine.
The witness told the court that she chose to testify against the accused on her own accord and free will.
Under cross examination, she said that she and the accused had a good marriage and she had nothing against him.
She disagreed with Kamarudin that she was promised something in return if she testified against him.
The witness said she pawned off her jewellery at a shop at Felda Sahabat 16 in order to buy fuel and food while she and her husband as well as his other wife were in hiding, but could not remember the name of the pawn shop.
In the dock are 27 Filipinos and three local residents who are facing one to multiple charges of being members of a terrorist group and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
They are also alleged to have recruited members for a terrorist group or wilfully harboured individuals they knew to be members of a terrorist group.
The offences were allegedly committed between Feb 12 and April 10, 2013. The hearing at the Sabah Prison Department continues today. — Bernama