The nine Filipino nationals who were convicted of waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during the 2013 incursion of Lahad Datu, have been spared the gallows.
The Kota Kinabalu High Court yesterday imposed the life sentence on all nine, including Datu Amirbahar Hushin Kiram, nephew of the late leader and self-styled Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, The Star Online reported.
The others were Atik Hussin Abu Bakar, Basad Manuel, Ismail Yasin, Virgilio Nemar Patulada@Mohammad, Salib Akhmad Emali, Al Wazir Osman, Tani Lahad Dahi and Julham Rashid.
Their sentences were reportedly read out at the special High Court in the State Prison Department Hall at Kepayan.
“They could have been sentenced to death but the judge decided on the lower penalty because there was no evidence they pulled the triggers or committed any murders,” attorney N. Sivananthan told AFP.
The others had faced various terrorism-related charges.
Earlier, 12 other Filipinos had been acquitted.
Eight others, including three Malaysians, received prison sentences ranging from 10 to 18 years, said Sivananthan said.
The bloody incursion by some 200 Islamic militants from the southern Philippines was inspired by a self-proclaimed Filipino sultanate’s claims of historical dominion over the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island.
The assault, the most serious security crisis faced by Malaysia in years, led to a siege between the militants and Malaysian armed forces sent to root them out.
At least 70 people were killed, mostly militants, over the six-week ordeal. — With text from AFP
