PUTRAJAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia's highest court on Monday (Jan 15) upheld the death sentence for nine Filipino men charged with waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or the King, during the 2013 assault on Lahad Datu in Sabah. Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif said the decision of the five-man panel of the Federal Court was unanimous. A five-member Federal Court panel unanimously ruled that the death sentences were the most appropriate, upholding a decision by a lower court to increase the penalty from life sentences, according to the state news agency Bernama. The other judges were Chief Judge of Malaya Justice Ahmad Maarop, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Richard Malanjun, and Justices Ramly Ali and Azahar Mohamed. The fighters declared loyalty to the self-proclaimed Sultan of the southern Philippine region of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram, in the Philippines. The bloody incursion by some 200 Islamist militants from the southern Philippines in February 2013 was inspired by the supposed sultan's claims of historical dominion over Sabah. The two-month siege was the most serious security crisis faced by Malaysia in years, involving armed conflict between the militants and the Malaysian armed forces sent to root them out. The panel yesterday also dismissed the prosecution's appeal against the acquittal of 14 men on the charge of waging war against the King and terrorist-related offences linked to the intrusion from Feb 12 to April 10, 2013. Justice Md Raus said they have no reason to decide otherwise and affirmed the decision by the Court of Appeal delivered last June.
Malaysia upholds death sentences for nine Filipino Tausūgs over 2013 incursion in Sabah by a faction of claimant to the Sultanate of Sulu throne.