9 Filipinos sentenced to life in prison over 2013 Malaysia incursion
The defendants had faced death for ’waging war’ against Malaysia’s king, but were spared by the court in the Sabah state capital Kota Kinabalu
A Malaysian court sentenced nine Filipinos to life in prison on Tuesday over an armed incursion in 2013 that left scores dead and paralysed a remote corner of Borneo for weeks, a defence lawyer said.
Eight others, including three Malaysians, received prison sentences ranging from 10 to 18 years, said the attorney, N. Sivananthan.
The bloody incursion by some 200 Islamic militants from the southern Philippines was inspired by a self-proclaimed Filipino sultanate’s claims of historical dominion over the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island.
The assault, the most serious security crisis faced by Malaysia in years, led to a siege between the militants and Malaysian armed forces sent to root them out.
At least 70 people were killed, mostly militants, over the six-week ordeal.
Nine of the defendants had faced death for “waging war” against Malaysia’s king, but were spared by the court in the Sabah state capital Kota Kinabalu.