Fisherman shot and injured by gunmen off Sabah island

KOTA KINABALU - A 51-year-old fishermen was shot and injured when unknown gunmen opened fire on his boat in the waters off Pulau Tigabu, in north-east Sabah.

However, his 27-year-old colleague managed to cut the fishing nets before they sped away from the four gunmen who were in a pump boat.

The fishermen managed to return to Sandakan before reporting the incident Thursday.

The injured fishermen, Ladiono Larahima, had gunshot wounds on the body and hands and is undergoing treatment at the Duchess of Kent hospital in Sandakan. His condition is reported to be stable.

It is learned that the incident occurred around 11pm Wednesday as the fishermen were trawling in Tigabu waters.

The younger fisherman claimed he was sleeping when he was awoken by a gunshot. He saw Ladiono injured and four men with guns on a pump boat close to their fishing boat.

He immediately cut the nets and took over the speedboat and fled towards Pulau Jambongan before heading to Sandakan.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun confirmed Friday that a report was lodged and police are investigating if the incident occurred in Sabah waters or in a neighbouring country.

Pulau Tigabu is a 30-minute speedboat ride from the sea border with southern Philippines, where local warlords have been known to have aggressively driven away intruders poaching in their waters.

By Muguntan Vanar