PUTRAJAYA: The Appeals Court here overturned the natural life sentence of nine Filipino militants involved in the Lahad Datu intrusion four years ago and sentenced them to death for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Court of Appeal judge Justice Mohd Zawawi Salleh, who chaired a three-man panel, said the decision was unanimous.

The decision was made after allowing the prosecution's appeal against the sentence.

Other judges on the panel were Justices Abdul Rahman Sebli and Kamardin Hashim.

The prosecution filed an appeal against the nine Filipinos' natural life imprisonment for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong under Section 121 of the Penal Code, meted out by Kota Kinabalu High Court judge Justice Stephen Chung last year.

The nine are Julham Rashid, 70; Virgilio Nemar Patulada @ Mohammad Alam Patulada, 53; Salib Akhmad Emali, 64; Tani Lahad Dahi, 64; Basad Manuel, 42, the son of the late self-proclaimed Sultan Sulu Jamalul Kiram; Datu Amirbahar Hushin Kiram, 54; Atik Hussin Abu Bakar, 46; Al Wazir Osman @ Abdul, 62; and Ismail Yasin, 77. They were also appealing against their conviction.

Nine members of the Malaysian security forces were killed in the intrusion that occurred between Feb 12 and April 10, 2013.