Charges on eight accused persons withdrawn

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Ishak Mohd Yusof made the application on the directive of the Attorney General before Judicial Commissioner Dato' Sulaiman Daud for the withdrawal of the charges against the eight accused persons.

They were Bali ak Belukun (54), Langgong ak Mandang (44), Udan ak Mat (75), Ijau ak Rimo (43), Liau ak Rambol (47), Busang ak Nyandang (63), Sait ak Utat (54) and Emban ak Lajon (36).

Dato' Sulaiman ordered all four charges to be withdrawn after no objection was received from the assigned defence counsels, for allegedly causing the death of Liaw Teck Kong (38), Ling Chien Fung (28), Ting Ing Seng (26) and Wong Kong Seng (25).

Some family members who had assembled at the court compound since 8am, looked confused when the discharge order was given.

Some looked contented while others unhappy as 11 other accused persons would still be tried.

After the eight persons were led away to be released, Ishak applied to the court for an amendment to the charges for the remaining accused persons - Jalen ak Antom (60), Mawat ak Sait (22), Rentap ak Lajon (32), Majang ak Guba (28), Jambul ak Bundak (24), Bilong ak Badak (39), Manggat ak Nyaleng (24), Ungut ak Kadukom (52), Robert ak Beji (18), Ruyang ak Dingon (32) and Guba ak Jugol (46).

An interpreter read the charges in Iban explaining to them the four amended charges - that on 1 September, 1999 (around 4pm) along a road at Lot 75 Sawai Land District in Lamaus Estate, Ulu Niah, they were members of an unlawful assembly whose common objective was to cause the death on Liaw, Ling, Ting and Wong, a charge read under section 149 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 302 of the same code which is punishable with death upon conviction.

All the eleven accused persons pleaded not guilty to the four charges.

At 11am, after a short adjournment to allow the counsels to confer with their clients, the DPP told the court that they were ready to proceed with the hearing of the case by calling the next witness - chemist Lau Yong Tung from Jabatan Kimia Bintulu.

Lau, who did a blood analysis and firearms identification, told the court that he had received 67 exhibits from the Investigation Officer DSP Abang Mahmuddin Abang Rabaiee on 20 September, 1999.

He went through the list of exhibits which included tissue papers bearing blood stains, specimens of blood from the victims, victims' hair specimens, badly deformed lead pellets, victims' clothing with blood stains and cuts, shotguns, live ammunitions, parangs and their sheaths, blowpipes and darts.

The witness also told the court that he had analysed the blood groups and carried out test fire on the shotguns.

The court adjourned at 12.40pm.

When hearing resumed at 2.30pm, the prosecution tendered 33 of the exhibits which were confirmed by the witnesses.

Hearing continues today.