LAHAD DATU: The first eight of 108 people detained under preventive security laws following attacks against Malaysian security forces were charged here with acts of terror and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

No plea was recorded from the eight Filipinos, aged between 17 and 66, at the temporary magistrate's court yesterday afternoon within the compounds of the tightly guarded Lahad Datu district police headquarters.

Leading the prosecution team was Senior Federal Counsel Datuk Nordin Hassan before magistrate Amelati Parnell.

Each of the Filipinos was charged under Section 130 KA of the Penal Code with launching terrorism acts and waging war under Section 121 of the Penal Code.

Section 130 KA provides for a jail term of up to 30 years while Section 121 provides for the death penalty upon conviction.

The charges were read out in Bahasa Malaysia with interpreters translating the proceedings into ethnic Suluk and Bajau dialects.

Amelati later transferred the case to the Tawau High Court for hearing following an application by the prosecution.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail was also at the district police headquarters and several other Kota Kinabalu-based judges were present.

Media personnel were barred from entering the makeshift courtroom and a prosecution team member provided the details on the charges to reporters after the proceedings.

The names of those charged were not made available.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had told reporters on Tuesday that 108 people had been detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 while another 256 suspects had been detained for various offences during Ops Daulat.

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