KOTA KINABALU - Police have arrested two men said to be linked to the kidnapping of a Taiwanese woman and the murder of a man, believed to be her husband, in Pom Pom Island, Semporna last month.The suspects, both in their 30′s, were picked up in Kampung Bangau-Bangau, Semporna at about 3am yesterday, said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib.
“We believe the two men who do not have any identification documents were also involved in other cases, as well,” he said, adding that the suspects were working in the island area at Semporna.
Both have been remanded under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code for two weeks to facilitate investigations.
Hamza Taib said that they had also seized documents which could tie them to the case. He did not elaborate.
On Nov 15, a 57-year-old Taiwanese man was found dead with gunshot wounds while the 58-year-old woman was abducted by a group of armed men who raided the island resort shortly after midnight.
The woman is now believed to be in one of the many islands in southern Philippines while her family negotiate a ransom with the kidnappers.
In his Twitter account yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar congratulated Sabah’s ‘Ops Cantas’ team over the arrest of the suspects.
Meanwhile, Hamza said the police would continue to carry out ‘Ops Cantas’ at several areas such as holiday resorts in the islands nearby.
“This is to complement Esscom’s Ops Gasak to tighten the security in the region,” he said.
Esscom director-general Datuk Mohammad Mentek had said that ‘Ops Gasak’ was carried out at resorts on Mabul, Pom Pom and Kapalai, and focused on checking workers whom authorities believe might be informers for armed groups planning to kidnap tourists.
He said a total of 167 workers, comprising 70 Malaysians and 97 foreigners, were screened during the six-hour operation that began at 6am yesterday.
Nine were found with questionable documents – two Filipinos with fake identity cards, six with no work passes and one holding a false Malaysian identity card application receipt.
Action will be taken under the Immigration Act, while the National Registration Department and police will further investigate the identities and backgrounds of those detained.
Mohammad advised all resort owners to vet their list of employees as they were liable under immigration laws for harbouring and employing illegals.
He also warned house owners that they could be charged for harbouring illegal immigrants if they rented out their houses to them.
By Linda Peters
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