Two suspected Abu Sayyaf members to be jailed and caned, pending further probe

KOTA KINABALU: Two suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists who were nabbed in Sabah in November have been jailed and given a stroke of the rotan for entering the state and staying here illegally.

The duo - Abdul Abrera, 39, and Majid Abu Bakar, 33 - were among 14 illegal immigrants charged at the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court for immigration offences here Wednesday (Dec 5).

Abdul Abrera pleaded guilty to living in Sabah illegally since 1995 while Majib pleaded guilty to entering Sabah illegally two months ago.

Sessions Court judge Azreena Aziz ordered Abdul to be jailed five months and to be given a stroke of the rotan while Majid is to be jailed for four months, and caned once.

The other illegal immigrants aged between 18 and 55 also pleaded guilty to entering Sabah illegally. Some also pleaded guilty to having expired passports.

All of them were sentenced to five months jail and to be caned once.

According to sources, the two suspected terrorists will be investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) after this.

They were first arrested based on immigration offences, as investigators are gathering evidence to probe and charge the duo under Sosma.