COPS FINDING WAYS TO SAVE KIDNAP VICTIMS
IGP describes kidnappers’ video threat as psychological warfare
THE security forces are working with the Philippine authorities to ensure the safety and release of three kidnap victims — a Malaysian and two Indonesians.
This follows the uploading of a video by Facebook user Kim Hundin about 5am on Feb 14 that showed a masked man armed with a machete threatening to behead the victims, while surrounded by men armed with firearms.
The video also showed one of the Indonesians, with his eyes covered, pleading with the Indonesian government to negotiate their release.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun described the group’s action as psychological warfare aimed at pressuring the authorities and families to meet their demands.
“We will look at ways to assist in rescuing the victims with the cooperation of the Philippine security forces,” he said after the presentation of Criminal Investigation Guidebooks on chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive agents to Sabah and Sarawak criminal investigation department chiefs here yesterday.
On Dec 6, Indonesians, Heri Ardiansyah, 19, and Hariadin, 45, as well as Malaysian Jari Abdulla, 24, went missing in waters off Pegasus Reef near Kinabatangan.
Jari’s wife, Nadin Junianti Najiri, 25, said she was contacted by a person two days ago, urging her to get help from the Malaysian government to conduct negotiations with the kidnap group.
The caller forwarded a video footage to Nadin via the Messenger mobile application.
“I panicked when I watched the video. I nearly passed out despite not seeing my husband in it. “Please help us.
“Until today, I have not received any call (from the government).
“It has been two months since they were kidnapped.
“We only got to know about the victims when they (the kidnappers) called,” she said, adding that this was the third time the group had communicated with her, through a person believed to be a middleman.
Besides threatening the victims’ safety, Nadin said, the kidnappers had also asked her to look for other options, including getting help from elected representatives as no negotiations had been conducted with them.