ON kidnapping incidents or attempts in the State, ACP Hassim said from 2000 to 2015 there were 12 cases."The latest incident was at Pulau Mantabuan, Semporna at Oct. 17, where an attempt was made to kidnap a group of divers.
"Two boats of kidnappers were already waiting there but luckily we had personnel stationed on the tourist boats and when they spotted the army personnel they fled."
He said Esscom had also cooperated with the Philipines government where August 15, where as a result of the cooperation a raid was conducted on a village in Bunggal, Tawi Tawi where Deckson Muktadil was believed to be hiding out and in the process one of the gang members was killed.
"Deckson managed to escape but we received information he was injured in the process."
He said in early 2015, the PGA also foiled an intrusion attempt at Pom Pom Island.
"In 2014 in Southern Philippines there were 76 cases of kidnappings. So it is a positive thing to show that Esszone is working."
On the two remaining hostages, he said they were still alive and generally in good condition.
Hassim said Kidnap for Ransom Groups (KFRG) (including the Muktadil kidnap gang) are now believed to be varying their targets other than the usual East Coast resorts areas and fish farms to include fishing trawlers, trading ships, sailing ships i.e. yachts, bagangs, seaweed farms and deep sea anglers.
"Local fishermen being robbed are relieved of their outboard engine and craft and asked to jump in the sea.
"There are also attempts to kidnap farm or plantation owners or managers in the East Coast. We managed to prevent this from happening after receiving information and of course seaside restaurants and eating areas on the Sabah East Coast.
"It only takes 5 minutes (by fast boat) to reach the border of Philipines from Semporna and maybe 10 to 15 minutes to Tanduo.
"Pulau Langkayan, Beluran and Pulau Selingan, Sandakan has also been a target in the past . But we have these areas under control. We have a PGA force stationed in Pulau Selingan and the army in Pulau Bakungan Kecil.
In August last year we foiled five kidnap attempts. One was at Borneo Samudra Proboscis Monkey Semporna, another was where they tried to hijack the Celebes Explorer cruiser, another was an attempt on foreign tourists in Semporna and their informants was also spotted near the Semporna floating restaurant there. The Dragon Inn was also targeted but we managed to prevent it.
"Then on Nov 22 2014 they tried to abduct a shipyard owner in Karamunting, Sandakan.
"In June 2015 we captured a suspect in Kunak who admitted he was part of Muktadil's group and was involved in robberies and kidnappings. Even though he confessed to being engaged in such crimes, we could not prosecute him in court for robbery and kidnapping and only charged him as an illegal immigrant (PTI) and was sentenced to six months' jail and whipping."
