Lesser charge offer: Al-Maunah accused given 24 hours
K KabilanPublished: Jan 16, 2001 6:15 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Thirteen members of the Al-Ma'unah Islamic militant cult were today told to consider pleading guilty to an alternative offence of preparing to wage war or face a possible death sentence under the principal charge along with 10 other members.
The request was made by senior deputy public prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail who said that the 13 had been given sufficient time to make a decision on the matter.
Twenty-nine Al-Ma'unah members were originally charged under section 121 of the Penal Code for waging war or abetting to wage war against the Yang Di Pertuan Agong which carries death sentence or life imprisonment and a fine if found guilty.
Subsequently, 14 were offered an alternative charge under section 122 of the Penal Code of collecting men and arms to prepare to wage war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. This section carries a lesser sentence of life imprisonment or 20 years' jail.
Six of them then on Dec 7 pleaded guilty to the alternative charge and were sentenced to 10 years' jail each by justice Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin.
The alternative charge was preferred following representations made by the 13 to the Attorney-General's Chambers.
The remaining eight and five others, who had made similar representations subsequently, are now being asked to take up the alternative charge offer.
No more adjournments
At the start of today's proceeding, Abdul Gani sought an adjournment for the remaining 13 to seriously consider the alternative charge.
"Tomorrow, if any of the 13 do not plead guilty to the alternative charge, the prosecution will withdraw the alternative charge and continue with the principal charge," said Abdul Gani.
Zulkefli said that he does not want to grant any more adjournments and asked the lawyers of the 13 to be prepared for mitigation pleas tomorrow if their clients were to plead guilty.
The Al-Ma'unah members are alleged to have committed their offence between June and July 6, last year, at Pos 2, Km 19, Kuala Rui, Jalanraya Timur-Barat, Grik; Batalion 304, Infantri (AW), Kem Grik, Grik; and in Bukit Jenalik, Sauk, all in Perak.
They are alleged to have carried out an arms heist from two military camps by duping the soldiers at the camps into believing that they were there to conduct an arms inspection in the early hours of July 2.
The request was made by senior deputy public prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail who said that the 13 had been given sufficient time to make a decision on the matter.
Twenty-nine Al-Ma'unah members were originally charged under section 121 of the Penal Code for waging war or abetting to wage war against the Yang Di Pertuan Agong which carries death sentence or life imprisonment and a fine if found guilty.
Subsequently, 14 were offered an alternative charge under section 122 of the Penal Code of collecting men and arms to prepare to wage war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. This section carries a lesser sentence of life imprisonment or 20 years' jail.
Six of them then on Dec 7 pleaded guilty to the alternative charge and were sentenced to 10 years' jail each by justice Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin.
The alternative charge was preferred following representations made by the 13 to the Attorney-General's Chambers.
The remaining eight and five others, who had made similar representations subsequently, are now being asked to take up the alternative charge offer.
No more adjournments
At the start of today's proceeding, Abdul Gani sought an adjournment for the remaining 13 to seriously consider the alternative charge.
"Tomorrow, if any of the 13 do not plead guilty to the alternative charge, the prosecution will withdraw the alternative charge and continue with the principal charge," said Abdul Gani.
Zulkefli said that he does not want to grant any more adjournments and asked the lawyers of the 13 to be prepared for mitigation pleas tomorrow if their clients were to plead guilty.
The Al-Ma'unah members are alleged to have committed their offence between June and July 6, last year, at Pos 2, Km 19, Kuala Rui, Jalanraya Timur-Barat, Grik; Batalion 304, Infantri (AW), Kem Grik, Grik; and in Bukit Jenalik, Sauk, all in Perak.
They are alleged to have carried out an arms heist from two military camps by duping the soldiers at the camps into believing that they were there to conduct an arms inspection in the early hours of July 2.
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