Another two Indonesian fishermen abducted
LAHAD DATU: Two Indonesian f ishermen were reportedly kidnapped while fishing in the waters off Merabung near Kunak on Saturday night.
In the 7.30pm incident, boat skipper Saparuddin Koni, 43, and his 36- year- old assistant, Sawal Maryam, were reportedly abducted from their boat by a group of armed men.
According to Lahad Datu police chief ACP Hamzah Ahmad, a group of armed men had reportedly intercepted the fishing boat while the boat skipper, his assistant and 11 other crew members were fishing in the area around 7pm to 7.30pm.
The armed gunmen abducted the skipper and his assistant and took five mobile phones, the boat engine and RM1,850 in cash.
The remaining crew members were rescued by other fishermen fishing in the area and taken back to Kunak, arriving around 3am.
According to Hamzah, police were notified of the incident by the other fishermen in the area at the time as the radio on the boat was damaged by the gunmen.
“The kidnappers are believed to have fled into international waters immediately after abducting the two fishermen,” he said, adding that the police had yet to receive any call or demand for ransom while investigation was still ongoing from every angle.
This is the second kidnapping incident this month on Sabah’s east coast. The first kidnapping incident took place in Kinabatangan on Nov 5 where two boat skippers were kidnapped.
Meanwhile, Eastern Sabah Security Command ( ESSCom) commander Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid confirmed the latest abduction case.
Wan Abdul Bari said ESSCom was notified of the incident about 30 minutes later by other fishermen as the boat radio had malfunctioned after the remaining 11 crew were rescued.
Philippines army spokesman, Major Filemon Tan, said ground and naval units were trying to intercept the gunmen and their victims as they sped off towards the southern Philippines.
Indonesia has called for security to be strengthened along Sabah’s east coast where 12 of its nationals, including the two taken on Saturday, have been abducted since April.
Its Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, said Kuala Lumpur and Manila should work more closely in addressing the cross- border criminal groups operating in the area.
Abu Sayyaf operates in the Sulu Archipelago close to Malaysia and was founded with a separatist agenda, pledging allegiance to Islamic State and Al- Qaeda. However, it is better known for its lucrative acts of banditry and piracy that have not abated, even as Philippines troops stepped up offensives to dismantle the network.