Previous kidnappings in Sabah
2018 September 11
> Three Indonesian fishermen are feared to be kidnapped in waters off Semporna during curfew hours at about 1am.
2017 No cases 2016 November 19
> Two Indonesian fishermen identified as Saripuddin Koni, 36, and Sawal Maryam, 43, are kidnapped in waters off Merabung near Lahad Datu.
> Authorities suspect the incident could be
the work of Abu Sayyaf rebels.
November 5
> Two Indonesian fishermen, La Utu La Raali, 52, and La Hadi La Edi, 46, are kidnapped in waters off Kertam, about 15 nautical miles from Sungai Kinabatangan.
September 28
> A local boat owner is kidnapped in the
waters off Semporna.
> Four men board the boat and took its owner-skipper Ruslan Nasir Sarapin, 39, along with valuables and personal documents belonging to the other 26 crew members.
September 10
> Filipino refugees Loloi Alpin, Sami and Masurin, are taken off Pulau Pom Pom while they are fishing.
August 3
> At about 4.20pm in waters off Kinabatangan, four men armed with M16 rifles came as a few fishermen were pulling up their nets.
> The armed gunmen demanded a
RM10,000 ransom on August 5.
July 18
> Militants abducted five Malaysian sailors in waters off Dent Haven, in the first ever broad daylight kidnapping.
> The crew have been identified as Abd Rahim Summas, 62, Tayudin Anjut, 45, Fandy Bakran, 26, Mohd Zumadil Rahim, 23, and Mohd Ridzuan Ismail, 32. > Released after 2 months.
July 9
> Lorens Koten, 34, Teo Dores Kopong, 40, and Emanuel Arakian, 46 are abducted from a Malaysian fishing boat off Sinakut, Lahad Datu.
> Released after two months.
April 1
> Four Malaysian crewmen, Wong Teck Pang, 31, Wong Hung Song, 34, Wong Teck Chi, 29, and Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21, are kidnapped by Filipino gunmen near Pulau Ligitan off Semporna. > They were released on June 8.
March 26
> Ten Indonesian sailors are kidnapped
from their tugboat off Sabah waters. > The vessel's owners revealed Abu Sayyaf
demanded a ransom.
2015 May 14
> Restaurant manager Thien Yoke Fun, 50, and Bernard Then Ted Fen, 36, a tourist from Sarawak are kidnapped.
> Thien is freed after six months in captivity. > Then is beheaded by Abu Sayyaf militants
in Jolo in November.