Cops: some in Semporna, Sandakan funding the terrorists

LAHAD DATU: Certain individuals in Sandakan and Semporna have been sending money to Jolo island in the Philippines to support militants.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said these people were under surveillance and would be arrested for treason.

The sending of money to finance militants in Jolo was a serious offence and those involved could be arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), he told a news conference at the operations command at Felda Sahabat 16.



He said they could be prosecuted under laws which provided for life imprisonment or the death penalty upon conviction.

he said 429 individuals had been arrested and 116 of them were being held under Sosma while 42 had been released so far under "Ops Daulat."

He also said that 42 bodies, including those of two children, had been brought out of the operations area in Kampung Tanjung Batu while 29 bodies had been buried.

Khalid said 20 heads of households were taken to Kampung Tanduo Tuesday, accompanied by officers from the Lahad Datu District Office, to enable them to check on their houses and other property.

Meanwhile, a very weak armed intruder surrendered to the security forces on Monday.

He was in a very poor state after not having enough rest and nothing to eat for 15 days.

"I hope the remaining intruders will surrender as we know they are not in a good state as they do not have a leader or any direction," he said, adding the man surrendered at the swampy areas in Kg Tanjung Batu.

He also said that 29 out of the 40 corpses that have been taken out from the operation areas have been buried at an unidentified area.

Khalid also added on Tuesday morning, 20 people including Kg Tanduo village chief, heads of families and members of the security council have been taken into the village to look for damages there and to inspect their properties for compensation purposes.