Hong Kong partner of Silam hostage killed in car crash in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU - A Hong Kong businessman, who was on his way to Sandakan to negotiate terms for the release of his kidnapped partner from the Silam fish farm, was killed in a car crash Saturday evening.

Three others were also killed in the accident, when their taxi collided head-on with a four-wheel drive vehicle at Mile 21, Jalan Labuk in Sandakan, around 5.30pm.

The businessman was identified as Kee Kwok Edien, 63, the owner of Wonderful Terrace Fish Farm, from where Yang Zau Lin, a 34-year-old Chinese national, was kidnapped by Filipino gunmen on May 6.

Unconfirmed reports claimed Kee was carrying an unspecified sum of money, believed to be the ransom for his partner's release.

Kee was in the taxi with two fellow passengers Jaafar Kassim, 40 and Filipino Pedro Jr Pajimola, 36, and the taxi driver Salah Ibno, 64.

Two died on the spot while the other two died at the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan. The 24-year-old driver of the four-wheel drive and two women (aged 24 and 32) passengers suffered injuries but were not in any danger, the reports added.

The reports also stated that Kee's family was flying to Sandakan to collect his remains.

Kee, who runs several aqua-culture businesses in Hong Kong, was believed to have been contacted by representatives of the Filipino gunmen for the release of his partner, being held captive in the Abu Sayyaf stronghold in Jolo Island, southern Philippines.

By Stephanie Lee