ZAMBOANGA CITY—A Malaysian court spared a relative of the late Sultan Esmail Kiram III and eight other Filipinos who were earlier sentenced to death in Sabah for the 2013 Lahad Datu attacks that left scores dead, Malaysian state media reported on Tuesday.
In a report posted on the Nam News Network, Bernama said the sentences were reduced to life imprisonment for the 9 Filipinos, who were among more than 200 individuals charged in connection with the “invasion” carried out by followers of the Sulu sultanate from February 11 to March 24, 2013.
They were earlier found guilty of waging war against the Malaysian king and had been sentenced to death under Malaysia’s penal code.
Followers of the Sulu sultanate, reportedly out to reassert the family’s historic claim to Sabah, made their stand in Lahad Datu in Sabah.
The 2013 assault, the most serious security crisis faced by Malaysia in years, led to a six-week siege between militants and Malaysian armed forces. At least 70 people were reported killed.
However, after reviewing their case, Judge Stephen Chung ruled that Atik Hussin Abu Bakar, 45; Basad H. Manuel, 41; Ismail Yasin, 76; Virgilio Nemar Patulada alias Mohammad Alam Patulada, 52; Salib Akhmad Emali, 63; Al Wazir Osman, 61; Tani Lahaddahi, 63; Julham Rashid, 69; and Datu Amir Bahar Hushin Kiram, 53; were not directly involved in the skirmishes that occurred, nor was there proof that they had killed any member of the security force in cold blood or had injured anybody.
Kiram is a relative of Agbimuddin Kiram, a crown prince in the Sulu Sultanate who led the invasion.
Amirah Lidasan, national president of Suara Bangsamoro, said they were “relieved” to hear the decision.
The Kiram family claims ownership over Sabah, which an ancient Sultan had leased to the British North Borneo Company in 1878. Sabah, however, later became a British protectorate and was included in the Federation of Malaysia after the country gained independence in 1963.
The Philippines asserted its claim over Sabah that year and broke diplomatic relations with Malaysia over the matter.
Ties were resumed in 1989 but the Sabah claim remains.