PUTRAJAYA, June 6 – The Palace of Justice (PoJ) here today saw stringent security control for the appeal proceedings involving 28 accused persons in the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion case.
Unlike other prisoners who were normally taken through a special lane via the court lock-up, the accused were brought into the PoJ, using the public main entrance in between the PoJ and Putrajaya Court.
They were taken in two buses belonging to the Malaysian Prisons Department which were parked at the back staircase of the PoJ. The entrance was closed to the public.
Each of the accused was seen escorted by two prison officers.
As a safety measure, the PoJ personnel and members of the press were asked to vacate the lane.
Some of the toilets were closed to the public when all the accused were taken into and out of the courtroom.
Over 100 security personnel comprising prison officers, General Operations Force and the Bukit Aman (federal police) Special Task Force on Organised Crime (STAFOC), who were armed and equipped with bullet-proof vests, were seen manning the compound.
Meanwhile in the courtroom, the accused were seated in the public gallery with prison officers on either side.
Only six registered media personnel were allowed to cover the proceedings in the courtroom as most of the seats were occupied by the accused and prison officers.
All of them were taken into the PoJ about 8am and left the compound about 2.30pm. — Bernama
