Local man in Lahad Datu intrusion trial denies another accused used his phone

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KOTA KINABALU: An accused in the Lahad Datu intrusion trial here yesterday denied allowing another accused to use his mobile phone to make calls.

Abd Hadi Mawan, 52, a local, told the High Court that there was no way Datu Amir Bahar Hushin Kiram, a Filipino could have access to his ‘handphone’ as he had never met him.

“I have been victimised. I never met Datu Amir Bahar – not at my house nor anywhere on the road,” he said in Bahasa Malaysia in reference to a communication interception document shown to him by counsel Abdul Gani Zelika during examination-in-chief.

The document pertaining to Abd Hadi’s telephone number, 011-25259482, which was allegedly used by Datu Amir Bahar, contained five conversations intercepted by police from 4.02pm to 7.20pm on March 4, 2013.

Abd Hadi is accused of being part of a terrorist group responsible for the armed intrusion at Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu in 2013 and was testifying as the 11th witness in his and 13 others’ defence trial.

Meanwhile, he agreed that he did make and receive calls in regard to certain conversations allegedly involving Datu Amir Bahar, and attending a so-called coronation ceremony in Jolo, Philippines.

He said he was invited by an acquaintance named Abraham, whom he met in Semporna, to a gathering and later discovered that it was a ‘coronation’ for one Datu Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram as Sultan of Sulu.

“I went to Jolo with Abraham to see an imam who could treat my back pain and swollen feet.

“I just followed wherever Abraham went because I did not have relatives nor a place to stay in Jolo,” he explained.

Abd Hadi and 13 Filipinos are entering their defence before Justice Stephen Chung at the Sabah Prison Department for various offences allegedly committed between Feb 12 and April 10, 2013.

Some of the accused are facing one to multiple charges of being members of a terrorist group and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Others are alleged to have wilfully harboured individuals they knew to be members of a terrorist group, or solicited or gave support to a terrorist group.

The hearing continues today. — Bernama