©The New Straits Times (Used by permission)
KOTA KINABALU: International Criminal Court counsel Datuk N. Sivananthan will take the lead in defending 22 Filipinos charged with various offences in connection with the Lahad Datu intrusion.
Sabah and Sarawak Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum granted an appplication by counsel James Tsai who will also be in the defence team appointed by the Philippine government.
Three other counsel in the team were Zaleha Mohd Yusof, Stella Simon and Majnah Abdillah, Tsai said.
"The High Court moved forward our application for an ad–hoc submission from July 5 to today (yesterday) and was granted without any objections from the state attorney–general's office."
Sivananthan will be defending Datu Amirbahar Hushim Kiram, Lin Mad Salleh, Holland Kalbi, Habil Suhaili, Timhar Hadil, Kadir Uyung, Lating Tiong, Masir Aidin, Virgilio Nemar Pataluda @ Mohammad, Aiman Radie, Salip Akhmad Emali, Al Wazir Osman, Tani Lahad Dahi, Julham Rashid, Rijmal Salleh, Abdul Majil Jubil, Rizman Gulan, Basil Samiul, Totoh Hismullah, Saidil Jaharul, Dani Ismail and Noraidah Ibnahi.