Malaysia files terror raps vs Kiram, allies

From the Manila Standard Today (Mar 18): Malaysia files terror raps vs Kiram, allies

The brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III will face charges in Malaysia for leading 200 armed men in Sabah, which touched off a conflict that has claimed over 60 lives, the police in Malaysia said Sunday.

State police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said Malaysia will seek the extradition of Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram if it is proven that he has escaped back to the Philippines, Malaysia’s Star Online reported on Sunday.

Quoting Hamza, the Star Online said an investigation under the state’s Security Offenses Act has been initiated against Kiram, whom Hamza described as “leader of the terrorist group” in Sabah.

“We have put up an investigation paper and we will deal with it according to our laws. We will apply for him to be extradited and he will face charges in Malaysian courts,” Hamza said.

In Taguig City, the spokesman of the Sulu Sultanate, Abraham Idjirani, laughed off reports that Agbimuddin has left Sabah.

“We were able to talk to him last Saturday and he remains in Sabah. That is their black propaganda as we all know this is election time in Malaysia,” Idjirani said.

The Malaysian government has recanted its earlier statement that Agbimuddin, the so-called crown prince of the sultanate, has escaped. It said manhunt operations against Agbimuddin and the remnants of his army in Sabah continue.

Idjirani said the Royal Security Army in Sabah numbers around 170 after more than 30 fighters returned to Tawi-Tawi last week due to the Malaysian force’s continued bombardment.

Bernama, Malaysia’s national news agency, said fresh fighting broke out in Tanjung Batu at around 10 am Sunday, resulting in “one more Sulu terrorist” killed.

Army field commander Lt. Gen. Datuk Seri Zulkiple Kassim said the security forces came in contact with “the terrorists” twice on Sunday.

“In the 10:15 am contact, we managed to kill one of the terrorists while three others escaped,” he told a press conference held jointly with Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib at Ops Daulat’s headquarters at Felda Sahabat 16.

The latest death has brought to 62 the number of the armed followers of the sultanate killed since the start of the military offensive on March 5, Bernama said.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/03/18/malaysia-files-terror-raps-vs-kiram-allies/