Kidnap No 3 in three weeks
Published on: Sunday, April 17, 2016
Tawau: Suspected Abu Sayyaf kidnappers in a speedboat have struck again – the third time in three weeks – this time taking four Indonesian sailors hostage in international waters off Pulau Mataking, Semporna.They also shot and injured one of the crew of the tugboat TB Henry. It was on its way to Banjarmasin, Indonesia, after sending coal to Manila, Philippines.The sailors abducted in the 6.30pm incident have been identified as Yohanis Serang, Sembara Octapia, Leornad Bastian, Rohaidi and Royke Fransy.ADVERTISEMENT Acting Representative of the Indonesian Consulate, here, Abdul Fatah Zainal, said they were informed that four of the kidnappers came on board the tugboat before firing shots."The kidnappers acted aggressively until their shots injured one of the sailors and they also struck and kicked other crew on the tugboat. They smashed all communication and radio equipment in the tugboat before they abducted the four," he said, adding that the kidnappers were not wearing masks but turbans and shirts with military fatigues. The sailor who sustained gunshot wounds, Lambos Simanungkalit, is now being treated at Tawau Hospital for wounds on his chest.Four other sailors are safe and now in Lahad Datu while another sailor is at Semporna police station to facilitate investigations.ADVERTISEMENT Abdul Fatah said they have been given permission by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) to meet the four Indonesian sailors who are now in Lahad Datu.They are in the midst of contacting the family members of the kidnap victims in Indonesia to inform them the current situation and will give counselling services to the families.
ADVERTISEMENT
In a bid to curb kidnappings, Malaysia has imposed a temporary ban on the trade route between Sabah and the southern Philippines."The government has suspended barter trade between the two regions until a comprehensive plan is formulated to ensure the safety and security of Sabah state. It is a temporary ban," Abdul Rahim Abdullah, marine police chief, said. "We have deployed marine police boats along with ships from the maritime enforcement agency and the navy to enforce the ban," he added.On April 1, four Malaysian sailors were kidnapped from a ship near Sabah's Ligitan island. Several days earlier, 10 Indonesian sailors were kidnapped in waters off the southern Philippines, with initial information indicating the sailors may have been taken by an Abu Sayyaf faction to Sulu, a remote southern island that is a hideout of the militant outfit. Someone claiming to be from Abu Sayyaf called the vessel's owners to demand a ransom for the sailors' release.Many Western and other embassies routinely issue warnings against travelling to most of the Philippines' Muslim-populated southern regions, which lie just northeast of Sabah, because of the risk of being abducted by the group.In the past Abu Sayyaf has mainly targeted tourists as they can demand high ransoms for foreigners.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
Two Canadians and a Norwegian were kidnapped from yachts at a marina in September, with the militants setting an April deadline for a ransom to be paid. The militants in a video demanded one billion pesos ($21 million) for each of the three foreigners.Since the April 8 ransom deadline passed there has been no word on the hostages' fate. Last year, Malaysian Bernard Then was kidnapped from a seaside restaurant in Sabah, about 300 kilometres (180 miles) from the Abu Sayyaf's Jolo stronghold. He was later beheaded by the group.