37 Abu Sayyaf terrorist group suspects apprehended
KOTA KINABALU: Police apprehended 37 people suspected to be involved in the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in Beaufort, two of whom are believed to be subleaders and are wanted by the Philippine government.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali told a press conference on Monday that the suspects were taken into custody following an operation at a mangrove swamp near Taman Sri Arjuna in Beaufort on May 8, around 3am.
Police arrested eight men, eight women and their 21 children who were indoctrinated from a young age to pledge allegiance to the terrorist group.
“We have confirmed and verified with the Philippines security team that the eight suspects are from the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group. The suspects were believed to have escaped from the neighbouring country and entered Sabah, following an aggressive operation by the Philippines security team in southern Philippines.
“From the eight men, two of them are on the Philippine government wanted list for involvement in a battle with the Philippines marine security team at Bud Bawis Complex, Panamao Sulu between 2011 and November 2020. They are also believed to be connected to kidnapping cases involving foreigners in the Philippines,” said Hazani.
The operation involved the Sabah police contingent, its Special Branch, Criminal Investigation Department, VAT 69 Commando, and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESScom).
Hazani said the information received by police was the result of groundwork by Esscom.
All the suspects are remanded from May 9-12.
Hazani added that various documents had also been found, including receipts of temporary Malaysian identification, which are believed to be fake.
“Interrogations will be focused on uncovering how they entered Sabah, what method they used to enter the state – whether through air or sea – and we also want to know their established contacts in Sabah, whether among the Abu Sayyaf or Daesh terrorist groups. We also want to know the route they took.
“Additionally, we want to know if they have their own cell here based on the established contacts within the state,” he said.
Hazani further said all district police chiefs had been instructed to work closely with local governments to identify mangrove swamps in their respective districts, for the purpose of tracking newly established settlement areas.
“In Sabah, we have 624 illegal settlement areas and we have more than 90 illegal settlements in water villages. We also urge village chiefs to identify new people in the village, people who move in and out of the village, and report to local authorities and security agencies for verification and to identify where these people come from.
“Similarly, we urge contractors and developers to conduct proper background checks when hiring labourers. Make sure all documents are in order as you do not want to end up hiring terrorist members or former members of terrorist groups,” said Hazani.
He added that police had also been in discussion with ESScom to strengthen existing assets and human resources to fortify security in the waters, especially through existing operations.
Meanwhile, Hazani said the west coast of Sabah was most likely chosen as a hiding place, especially in the interior, due to ESScom’s presence in the east coast.
The suspects are believed to be wary of ESScom, hence hiding in the interiors of the west coast, he added.
He also warned civilians against harbouring similar suspects and illegal immigrants, saying the authorities will not hesitate to take legal action under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.