No record was made on weapons taken away from the arms store in the Batalion 304 camp in Grik by an inspection team as it was a "sudden inspection", a witness in the Al-Ma'unah "treason" trial said today.

Corp Sharif Napi, continuing his evidence from morning, told the Kuala Lumpur High Court hearing that under normal circumstances, he would record in a book all weapons taken out of the store.

"However, on this occasion, I had not done so as it was a sudden inspection," he said.

Sharif was answering questions posed by several defence counsel for the 29 Al-Ma'unah members who are charged under section 121 of the Penal Code for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which carries the punishment of death or life sentence, or a fine, if found guilty of waging war or abetting to wage war in the country.

They are alleged to have committed the offence between June and July 6 at Pos 2, Km 19, Kuala Rui, Jalanraya Timur-Barat, Grik; Batalion 304, Infantri (AW), Kem Grik, Grik; and in Bukit Jenalik, Sauk, all in Perak ([#1]Twenty-nine Al-Ma'unah members claim trial[/#], Aug 9).

They are alleged to have stolen a cache of weapons and ammunition from two military camps by impersonating army officers in the early hours of July 2.

To a question by Charles Hector, lawyer for seventh defendant Shahidi Ali, Sharif said there was no communication equipment at the store, adding that he prepared a list of weapons taken away by a group of men based on the records available at the camp.

Earlier today, Sharif recounted how a group of men, led by a "Lt-Col", had informed him of a surprise arms inspection and drove away with the weapons ([#2]Court told details of weapons snatched from army camp[/#], Oct 10).

He also disagreed with Hector's suggestion that he knew that a group of men would be coming to take the weapons.

Ask intelligent questions

A host of similar suggestions posed by Hector prompted senior deputy public prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail to object and justice Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin to comment that questions asked must be "intelligent questions".

To questions by Bhagwan Singh, lawyer for eighth defendant Khairul Anuar Mohd Ariffin, Sharif said he held the keys to the fence outside the arms store and it was locked at all times.

"I hold the keys to the gate and on July 2 at about 4.20am, the 'Lt-Col' and two other men dressed in army fatigues rattled the fence to wake me up," said Sharif, who was the 34th prosecution witness.

He also added that there was no communication switch in the store that connects the store directly with the guard post.

Sharif also said he was attached with the 304 camp since April 1999 and since then he had undergone one arms inspection and it was done inside the store.

He said the men did not take any magazines for the two Steyr guns and six light machine guns taken from the store.

He agreed that these machine guns could not be used without the magazines.

On being re-examined by Gani, Sharif said he was unaware if bullets could be inserted straight into the guns without the use of any magazines.

The hearing continues tomorrow.