Two Indonesians kidnapped

Filipino gunmen grab fishermen from Sabah waters

KOTA KINABALU: Filipino cross border kidnappers hit for the ninth time this year – this time taking with them two more fishermen from Sabah waters near Lahad Datu.

The Indonesians, who were working for a Kunak-based fishing company, have been identified as Saripuddin Koni, 36, and Sawal Maryam, 43.

Eastern Sabah Security Commander Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said both men were grabbed at about 7.30pm on Saturday, barely an hour after they anchored at an area called Merabung.

He said the fishing vessel with 13 crewmen on board was approached by five masked men, armed with rifles on a speedboat.

The gunmen boarded the trawler and destroyed the communications equipment and grabbed about RM1,500 cash, five handphones and 15 horsepower outboard engine before taking with them Saripuddin and Sawal.

The speedboat was seen heading towards the sea near Felda Sahabat and was believed to have crossed over to the Tawi Tawi chain of islands in southern Philippines.

The remaining crewmen on board the vessel sought help from another fishing boat nearly an hour later.

The crew of the second fishing vessel then notified the Malaysian security forces which had been alerted by their Philippines counterparts who had been pursuing a speedboat near Tawi Tawi near the borders with Sabah.

Wan Abdul Bari said they, however, could not ascertain if that speedboat had crossed over into Malaysian waters or if it was the one involved in the latest abduction,

Indonesia has called for security to be strengthened in Sabah’s east coast waters where 12 of its nationals, including the two taken on Saturday, have been abducted since April.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Kuala Lumpur and Manila should work more closely in addressing the cross border criminal groups operating in the area.