Indonesian militant in Maute siege guilty of possession of firearm
AN INDONESIAN militant involved in the Maute group’s 2017 siege of Marawi City has been found guilty of illegal possession of firearm.
Taguig Trial Court Branch 266 ruled that accused Muhammad Ilham Syahputra violated the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Act, Republic Act No. 10591.
It was reported that “one Caliber .45 Caspian pistol with SN 475269 and inserted with loaded magazine containing seven live ammunitions of Caliber .45,” was recovered from Mr. Syahputra in a joint police operation, following the declaration of martial law in Mindanao after the Maute siege.
The court noted that Syahputra was not a licensed or registered firearm holder.
The operation was led by the Marawi City Police Station, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Provincial Investigation Detection Management Branch and Provincial Intelligence Branch of Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office.
Syahputra faces eight years and one day up to 10 years, eight months and one day of imprisonment.
The Court also ruled that Syahputra is not guilty of being in possession of a fragmentation grenade. “The Initial Verification report adduced by the prosecution does not include the negative finding that accused is not authorized to possess a fragmentation grenade,” the court said in part. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
