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Saturday, April 2, 2016

4 Sarawakians kidnapped by suspected ASG near Pulau Ligitan

The ship’s captain (in blue) is brought
to the Tawau police station for questioning.
KOTA KINABALU: Police are trying to ascertain whether the kidnap of four Sarawakian crewmen occurred in Malaysian waters off Pulau Ligitan near the east coast Semporna.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said initial reports received from five of the released crewmen only proved that the incident happened in waters off Ligitan that borders the Philippines.

“We are not certain that the incident happened in our waters so we need to find out first,” he said during a press conference here on Saturday.

He said there were enough assets at the Ligitan area and they were interviewing the released crewmen consisting of Indonesian and Myanmar nationals for more information on the incident that occurred at about 7pm Friday.

Rashid said based on the recent modus operandi and reports of attempted entry and kidnappings, it was clear that the criminals were changing their way of operations and were going for easy targets.

“These criminals no longer choose their victims, they will take just about anyone as long as it’s easy for them to grab and leave,” he said, adding the four Malaysians have been identified as Wong Teck Kang, 31, Wong Hung Sing, 34, Wong Teck Chii, 29, and Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21.

Initial investigations stated that eight Filipino gunmen in a speedboat jumped on board the Malaysian registered vessel, MV MASFIVE 6, which was sailing near the Ligitan Island and held them at gunpoint before forcing them to disembark.

The speedboat with the four Malaysian hostages and the gunmen were seen speeding towards Filipino waters.

The other foreign crew members - three Myanmar and two Indonesians - were left unharmed. They immediately went to the Tawau police station to lodge a police report.

No reports of ransom have been made so far.

Previously reported ------------------------------

Four Malaysians abducted in Sabah waters

The ship has been held by Tawau Marine Police for the investigation
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police today confirmed that four Malaysians were abducted by eight armed men off Pulau Ligitan yesterday around 6.15pm.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said the four aged between 21 and 34 were among nine crew members of a ship which was heading back to Malaysia from the Philippines.

They have been identified as Wong Teck Kang, 31; Wong Hung Sing, 34; Wong Teck Chii, 29; and Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21.

"The five other individuals in the ship comprising Myanmar and Indonesian nationals were released by the armed group," he told reporters after a parade to mark the completion of the Constable Training Series 2/2015, here today.

Abdul Rashid said police were also investigating and gathering information including on the location of the incident.

"We must not jump to conclusions and say that it happened in our area; it possibly could have happened in international waters but because they were on the way back to Tawau, the report was lodged with us.

"The incident reportedly happened off Ligitan; the area is vast and we have our assets there. So we are investigating whether it happened in or off our waters.

"I understand that the ship and crew had been brought to Tawau and that police had taken the crew's statements. There has not been any call from the abductors for any ransom," he said.

Meanwhile in Miri, police chief ACP Junaidi Bujang said the shipping company's administrative manager lodged a report at the Miri police station last night.

He said a copy of the report had been faxed to the Sabah Police Contingent headquarters for further action. — Bernama

Related news -------------------------

'Gunmen spoke broken English, Filipino'

DAVAO CITY: The Philippines military has confirmed reports that at least four Malaysians were  kidnapped by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf group off Semporna  in Sabah waters on Friday evening.

A military source confirmed that about eight armed men boarded a tugboat operated by the victims at around 6pm (7pm Malaysia) Friday using a motorized vessel.

The armed men declared that they were members of the Abu Sayyaf and requested the victims to go with them, the source said.

The perpetrators, who spoke broken English and Filipino, also took with them a laptop, cash and the mobile phones of the victims.

Initial reports said that the armed men fled along with their victims towards smaller islands.

Major Filemon Tan from the military’s Western Mindanao Command, confirmed the report but said that they are still putting together the details of the reports.

Last week, the Abu Sayyaf kidnapped 10 Indonesians who are working on a tugboat in the province of Tawi-Tawi and demanded US$1mil for their safe release. -  The Philippines Inquirer/Asia News Network

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