Evidence from main witness called 'flawed'
The Appeals Court yesterday upheld a primary court verdict that acquitted three men of involvement in the Bersatu separatist movement.
Two of the accused, Imam Ilayas Malee, 42, and Mapaosee Sateng, 30, however, died while the case was still before the court. The third suspect is Ya Adae, 61.
The case was brought to the Appeals Court after the lower court ruled in 2005 that the three men were not connected to the insurgent group.
Yesterday the court argued that a key witness, presented by state prosecutors, had "some flaws" and could not substantiate his charge against the three, who insisted on their innocence and accused police of intimidating them into a confession.
The witness, Malasem, told the court that Ilayas, a Muslim cleric, forced him to join a gathering of 20 men in 2001 in Yala to prepare violent attacks in the deep South.
Allegedly helped by Mapaosee and Mr Ya, he wanted to merge his group with others in a move to split Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla provinces from Thailand, Mr Malasem claimed.
Mr Malasem is a member of the Lam Mai tambon administration organisation in Yala's Muang district.
Mr Malasem, an accused drug dealer, claimed his house was used as their secret meeting place and that he was also trained in the use of heavy weapons.
The court found his evidence was conflicting.
It said it was unusual that Ilayas should invite him to join his group because he was a state official.
It also asked why Mr Malasem did not inform police immediately but waited until his father, also accused of being a drug dealer, was killed.
Meanwhile, the violence continued in Yala yesterday as police found the body of a villager in Bannang Sata district.
The victim, identified as Somchai Jaidee, 33, disappeared on Monday. He was shot in the head.
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