Jail for Abu Sayyaf member
Tuesday, 24 Jul 2018
KOTA KINABALU: An Abu Sayyaf member, who fled southern Philippines to start a new life in Sabah, was jailed 13 years by the High Court here.
The Basilan-based Filipino, Marsan Ajilu @ Anuar Mohamad Asnalul (pic), 32, who is currently serving a six-month jail term for entering the state illegally, was responsible for kidnapping in southern Philippines and fought against the military there.
Justice Dr Alwi Abdul Wahab yesterday ordered the custodial sentences to run consecutively.
Marsan admitted to being a member of the militant group in Sabah between July 31, 2012, and March 15 this year.
According to the facts of the case, Marsan was arrested by police on March 15 at the Kepayan police headquarters here at 10.30am and on March 20, the state police requested for a check on the suspect’s background.
A reply six days later confirmed that Marsan was a member of the Abu Sayyaf group with two warrants of arrest issued by a Philippine court for multiple attempted murders and kidnapping for ransom.
The Philippine government also confirmed that Marsan was a Abu Sayyaf member in Basilan, the island province in southern Philippines, and acted as a hunter of kidnap-for-ransom in Zamboanga City.
The court was also told that Marsan had acquired skills in the use of various types of firearms and was involved in a series of battles against the Philippine army in the southern Philippines.
Investigations also revealed that Marsan had admitted to being a member of the Abu Sayyaf group since 2010 and fought against the Philippine army three times since 2016.
In mitigation, Marsan urged for a lenient sentence, saying that he is remorseful for his actions as he has fled to Malaysia to start a new life.
He told the court he has four children in the Philippines.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Fadzlan Mohd Noor, however, asked the court to impose a deterrent sentence for the serious offence committed.
On April 13, the Sessions Court sentenced Masran to six months’ jail and a stroke of the rotan for entering Sabah illegally. He was ordered to serve his custodial sentence with effect from the date of arrest, March 15, and be deported.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/24/jail-for-abu-sayyaf-member-militant-who-fled-philippines-and-came-to-sabah-gets-13-years/#rDwf6Kw8ekrI9Pvy.99
