KOTA KINABALU: A cache of firearm and ammunition recovered at Kampung Pasusul, Felda Sahabat in Lahad Datu on Sunday were likely to be weapons left behind by Sulu invaders during the 2013 intrusion.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said a 50-year-old suspect was arrested to facilitate investigations following the seizure of an M16 assault rifle, bullets, magazines and grenades at a farm in the village.
"We do not rule out that those items belonged to the terrorists (involved in Lahad Datu intrusion).
"Police are still investigating and a suspect has been detained to assist our probe," he said after launching of the Implementation Committee of Sabah Retired Senior Police Officers (RESPA) here today.
It was learnt that following a tip-off, police rushed to the site and recovered 14 empty magazines and a pouch, a green plastic bottle filled with bullets, a M16 assault rifle with its magazine, and two hand grenades.
Upon questioning, the suspect claimed he found the weapons sometime last month scattered at a farm where he was working.
He also said that he used oil to wipe the surface of the firearm and tested if it was still functional.
Police said the suspect was detained for not reporting the discovery to the authority and suspicion that he had kept the assault rifle well maintained.