ESSCom was told to set up post at area where kidnapping occurs – CM

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had previously asked ESSCom to establish a post at the area where yesterday’s kidnapping occurred.

When met a er the 74th Indonesian Independence Day celebration at Magellan Sutera here yesterday, Shafie said he had been made to understand that the kidnapping involved Indonesian fishermen from the Butun race happened at 11.58am

“I have been made to understand that they were brought to TawiTawi. However, we will see the actual situation and I will get detailed information on the actual position,” he said

“It’s the same spot because that is nearer, the nearest to some of these places like Tawi Tawi, and it is also in an area which is not covered (by ESSCom) actually.

“I have already suggested for that particular area, we must have a post to make sure that we have a form of deterrence in the particular place.

“We have ESSCom in that particular area, but it doesn’t go to that particular area because it is very remote,” said Shafie in response to questions posed by the media.

It is believed that the Kidnap for Ransom (KFR) group was behind the kidnapping of three Indonesian crew of a fishing boat off Tambisan waters, yesterday.

T he fishermen were believed to be taken by seven gunmen at about 11.58am around Sandakan.

It was learnt that the masked gunmen in two pump boats had allegedly boarded two fishing vessels and took three crew members of the vessel.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) Commander DCP Datuk Hazani Ghazali when contacted yesterday said he had yet received further details on the incident.

Hazani added that they were still investigating the incident and still waiting for a full report.