Photocopied cheques for cession payment found on accused, court told
(Bernama) – The high court today heard that two photocopied cheques allegedly for cession payment were found on an accused linked to the Lahad Datu intrusion, about two years ago.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong escort and security officer, Acting ASP Mohammad Khairani Khalid said on March 23, 2013, he found photocopies of the cheques on A4-size papers with several other items from Datu Amir Bahar Hushin Kiram after he was nabbed at a bush and swampy area in Kampung Sri Melor, Semporna.
The witness was then attached to the Bukit Aman Special Action Unit and was assigned to be involved in an operation in Semporna to apprehend suspects linked to the intrusion.
He was testifying as the prosecution’s 69th witness in the trial of 30 individuals, including Datu Amir Bahar, linked to the intrusion.
Mohammad Khairani said the copies of the Standard Chartered Bank cheques also bore the words, ‘Malaysian Embassy of the Philippines’ and on each A4-size paper, in which each cheque was photocopied to, were also the words ‘Payment of Cession Money’.
He said one cheque was dated Oct 9, 2006, while the other was issued on Oct 5, 2005, adding that each cheque was signed by one Intan Zulina Dolah.
He told the court the copies of the cheques were found in a transparent folder with a letter titled ‘Cession Money’ dated 1981 and an A4-size paper written ‘Sabah Rental for the year 2005’.
Mohammad Khairani said, also in the folder was a letter from the office of ‘Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo’ addressed to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and an A4-size paper with a photograph of Sultan Esmail Kiram and former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
“There was also an A4-size paper containing four photographs, of which one was a photograph of Sultan Esmail Kiram and Tun Abdullah; one photograph of Sultan Esmail Kiram and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak; one photograph of Sultan Esmail Kiram and Tengku Fawziah who was then the Permaisuri Agong; and a fourth photograph which I do not remember.
“There was also a copy of a GDex (courier service) slip from Datu Amir Bahar addressed to the Sabah police commissioner; the Sabah Special Branch; (former) prime minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi; Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin and the immigration director-general,” he said.
Mohammad Khairani also said there were two membership cards, on which were written ‘member of the royal family’, under the name of the accused with an address at Sri Aman, Semporna and Jolo, Sulu, Philippines, respectively.
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.
