Gunmen demand 'large' ransom
Published on: Monday, May 18, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Gunmen holding kidnap victims Thien Nyuk Fun and Bernard Then Ted Fen have demanded a "large" ransom to secure their release. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman on Sunday confirmed that the kidnappers had contacted their families with demands of a large ransom.He said the gunmen had also allowed Thien, 50, and Bernard, 39, to speak to their family members but he declined to state the amount of ransom demanded. Restaurant co-owner Thien, from Sandakan, and Bernard, from Sarawak who works as a Mechanical and Electronic Consultant based in Cambodia, were taken by the gunmen who swooped into the Ocean Seafood Restaurant located just a 20-minute drive from Sandakan town at about 7.26pm on Thursday.
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The kidnapping – the first to be staged on the mainland – happened in less than one hour into the just extended dusk-to-dawn curfew enforced off the waters of 10 districts since July last year to restore peace and order after a spate of kidnappings at resorts and islands.Jalaluddin said the two captives were now held at a southern Philippines island and were unharmed, adding that the families of the two had refused to lodge police reports about the ransom demand calls.When asked whether the families were issued threats of not involving the police to secure their release, Jalaluddin said: "I am not aware of such threats."
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He said initial investigations showed that the kidnapping was likely masterminded by 'insiders' who had conspired to give information about the targets. Jalaluddin also revealed that they received information about a possible abduction in Sandakan, prompting the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) led by Commander Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun to embark on an integrated operation focusing on hot spots and illegal immigrants.
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"Unfortunately, the kidnapping occurred in an unanticipated area," he said. He said the police and Esscom were reviewing and enhancing security measures to ensure such incidents do not recur. In view of the need for enhanced security, Jalaluddin said the 20th phase sea curfew off six districts in the east coast under the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) has been extended from May 18 to June 2.The 7pm-5am curfew covering three nautical miles from the coastal area involves Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau. "The decision to extend the curfew was made based on several factors, with the main purpose to ensure safety and security of the people including tourists particularly off the waters in the east coast," he said. He said the curfew would also make it easier for enforcement personnel to monitor and look out for cross-border crime.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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