The Kuala Lumpur High Court today visited Bukit Jenalik in Sauk to have a close look at the hideout used by a group of men after allegedly stealing a cache of weapons from two army installations on July 2.

The hideout, located at the base of Bukit Jenalik, behind Sek Keb Bukit Jenalik, is alleged to have been used by the men, members of the Al-Ma'unah group, until their surrender on July 6. They have been accused of torturing and killing two of the four hostages they held captive there.

The court yesterday decided to visit the place following an application by counsel Karpal Singh, for group leader Mohd Amin Mohd Razali.

Karpal said he wanted to visit the place first before cross-examining witness Sergeant Mohd Shah Ahmad, who was held hostage in the place for four days.

The visiting team included justice Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin (photo), all defence counsel, the prosecution team as well as all the 29 defendants charged with waging war against the country.

The hideout used by the group is at the base of Bukit Jenalik, amongst rubber trees and is accessible either by a small path at the back of the school or through a two-kilometre granite road from the main road.

Open ground

The group has set up their base at an open ground surrounded by rubber trees and huts, with a small stream running by the side. To the other side is the school. The path from the school and the route from the main road leads to this spot from opposite directions.

The visiting team was transported to the area in 14 police vehicles at 10.05am and on arrival, Zulkelfi asked Mohd Shah to brief everyone present as to what the witness saw when he was held hostage.

Mohd Shah relived his experience again and informed as to where he had to dig holes; at which durian tree he was tied (photo); where he buried his colleague and fellow hostage R Sagadevan and ranger Matthew Medan; and where the three Pajero vehicles used by the group of men were parked.

He said the men had not built any camps and had just used the huts which were already there.

He also pointed to the judge the place by a stream where one of the defendants was shot by a sniper.

Soiled personal belongings

The hideout did not contain much left overs to bear the drama which unfolded here in early July.

There were still some half covered trenches and holes which Mohd Shah had testified he was ask to dig with two other hostages - Sagadevan and villager Jaafar Putih (photo).

There were also some personal belongings such as a tooth brush, weather-beaten headgear and underwear which were partly buried in the place.

Apart from these, this place looked like any other ordinary rubber plantation, with some durian trees in between.

The visit to the hideout lasted for only about 30 minutes and in that time Mohd Shah gave a complete tour of the hideout, including showing places where Mohd Amin prayed and took cover from sniper fires.

A police officer responsible for starting communications with Mohd Amin, ASP Abd Razak Mohd Yusof, also gave a briefing on the location of the Pajero vehicles as well as the place he spoke to Mohd Amin on July 6.

Damaged field

At the school, the judge was also shown two craters at the school field as result of grenades launched by the group of men from their hideout, which was about 200 metres away.

The visit was due to an application made by Karpal who wanted to visit the area to have a better impression of things that are claimed to have occurred there.

Over the past two hearing dates, special branch officer Mohd Shah had recounted his experience of being held by the group, testifying on the tortures he was subjected to as well as on the killings of Sagadevan and Matthew.

The cross-examination of Mohd Shah will take place on Monday when the hearing continues.

The 29 Al-Ma'unah members are charged under section 121 of the Penal Code for waging war against the Yang diPertuan 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 as army officers in the early hours of July 2. It was widely reported that some of them were arrested on July 6 after surrendering at Bukit Jenalik.

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[#2]'Treason' trial to move to hill hideout tomorrow[/#], Nov 1

[#3]Witness forced to bury colleague, court told[/#], Oct 31

[#4]Police officers tortured by Al-Ma;unah men[/#], Oct 31