Sultan’s son faces death penalty

From the Manila Standard Today (Nov 2): Sultan’s son faces death penalty
Sabah trial set for intruders

The son of the newly crowned sultan of Sulu and 26 other Filipinos who are facing the death penalty in Sabah will stand trial before a Malaysian court on January 6, 2014 for their alleged intrusion into Malaysian territory last February.

High Court Justice Stephen Chung, who set a Nov. 1 hearing, has moved the proceedings next year, following another appeal for postponement filed by  the Malaysian lawyer of the 27 Filipino suspects, according to Malaysian news agency Bernama.

The hearings on January 6-10, 15-17, 27-30 and Feb 10-14  will be held at the Sabah Prisons Department, which will be designated an open court.

Datu Amilbahar Hussin Kiram, the Sabah-based son of new Sultan Esmail Kiram II of the Sulu Sultanate, along with 26 alleged followers, had pleaded not guilty to charges of Waging War against Malaysian King Yang di-Pertuan Agong and sheltering or recruiting individuals to become members of a terrorist group during their arraignment on June 27.

The young Kiram was said to have the rank of “general” in the Sulu Sultanate’s Royal Security Forces, and was charged with taking an active part in the intrusion.

In Taguig City, sultanate spokesman, Abraham Idjirani, said the new sultan is set to announce next week his first royal decree on the Sabah claim.

Kiram II has succeeded his elder brother Jamalul Kiram III who died on Oct. 23, 2013.
“The matters on the January 2014 trial will be part of the new decrees and the Kingdom’s policies,” Idjirani told Manila Standard.

The sultanate earlier called on the Philippine government to assist the detained Filipinos.

On May 15, eight Filipinos were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Malaysian court for allegedly taking part in the intrusion.

The Sabah conflict started on February 9 when 235 followers of Kiram III sailed to Lahad Datu, Sabah, to revive the sultanate’s claim over the disputed territory.
The so-called Sulu Royal Security Force was led by the sultan’s brother, Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram.

The Malaysian government gave the Sulu gunmen until March 1 to surrender despite President Aquino’s appeal for “maximum tolerance”.

The next day, the Malaysian armed forces launched an offensive resulting in the death of 68 Filipinos and 10 Malaysian soldiers and policemen.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/11/02/sultans-son-faces-death-penalty-sabah-trial-set-for-intruders/