Gunmen Linked To Abu Sayyaf Kidnaps Two People From Seafood Restaurant In Sandakan
Four armed assailants stormed a famous seafood restaurant in Sandakan last night, kidnapping two people
By Samantha Khor — 15 May 2015, 11:06 AM
Gunmen reportedly demands large ransoms for kidnap victims, but families have yet to report to the police
Gunmen holding kidnap victims Thien Nyuk Fun and Bernard Then Ted Fen have contacted their families with demands of a large ransom to secure their release.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said the gunmen had also allowed Thien, 50, and Bernard, 39, to speak to their family members.
The two were now believed to be held at a southern Philippines island."They are unharmed," said Jalaluddin, 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 the their release, Jalaluddin said: "I am not aware of such threats."
Police Commissioner Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman also said that the kidnapping, believed to have been orchestrated by the Muktadil brothers, may have been carried out with some help from "insiders"
"Police received information about an abduction occurring in Sabah and Sandakan was one of the locations. The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) led by Datuk (Abdul) Rashid Harun has been carrying out integrated operations in Sandakan focusing on hot spots and areas harbouring illegal immigrants. Unfortunately, the abduction occurred in an unanticipated area," he said.
themalaysianinsider.com
Jalaluddin said Thursday that the notorious Muktadil brothers, who are suspected to be behind the latest kidnapping, may have had some inside help from an employee of Thien’s restaurant.
The Muktadil brothers’ gang – lead by brothers Nilson and Adzmil – are believed to be behind several kidnappings in Sabah’s porous east coast, including the abductions of China tourist Gao Huayun, 29, and Filipino worker Marcy Dayawan, 40.
themalaymailonline.com
15 May: Two people were kidnapped from a famous seafood restaurant in Sandakan when four armed assailants raided the restaurant sometime between 7.30pm to 8.00pm last night
Ocean King Seafood restaurant owner Chung Yun Thiam, 60, identified one of them as 50-year-old Thien Nyuk Fun, who is also his sister-in-law. The other victim is a customer named Bernard Ghen Ted Fen, 36.
Chung said that the gunmen, who were armed and clad in camouflaged army uniform, had "climbed up the staircase of the restaurant that was built on water". He and his workers managed to escape from the kidnappers during the raid, which lasted not more than a minute.
“Four men who were armed and wearing camouflaged army uniform suddenly climbed up the staircase of the restaurant that was built on water, at about 8pm,” he said when met outside the restaurant.
“Everything happened so fast. Everyone panicked and started shouting when four men, all dressed in camouflaged attire, suddenly appeared in the restaurant,” he said.
theborneopost.com
Chung said customers and workers fled the dining area when the gunmen arrived.
"My sister-in-law was at the counter when the suspects took her and another customer," he said when met at the scene, adding they fled towards the open sea.
The gunmen, believed to be linked to the militant Islamist group Abu Sayyaf operating in South Phillippines, were reported to have arrived by boat. Chung noted that they were not wearing masks nor did they shot anyone. They also left the restaurant's cash box untouched.
“They wore no mask and there was no shooting,” Chung said, adding that the abductors were not even bothered with money since they left without even taking any from the cash box at the counter.
“I overheard one of the customers saying that at least two more people were seen waiting in the boat. They were saying that that the boat was rather old,” Chung said.
“After lodging a police report, I don’t know what else to do. I guess I have to wait by the phone in case the abductors call for ransom," added Chung.
Security forces were immediately deployed to track down the kidnappers and victims, as Sandakan is only about an hour's ride on speedboat from the southern Philippines island Bakungan Besar.
Sabah police have been hunting for a suspected armed gang of seven men spotted at a plantation in Kinabatangan about 100kms from Sandakan earlier this month. They were also investigating a robbery of an outboard engine at a lobster farm in Semporna on May 7.
thestar.com.myHome Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that additional security forces have also been sent to assist in investigations. No arrest has been made, but the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) are on high alert and the coast guard has been deployed to cordon off the area.
He said although the boat believed to have been used in the kidnapping was seen heading towards the Philippines, it was believed to be still in Malaysian waters.
“No demands have been made as of yet and no injuries have been reported. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will be working closely with the Philippine authorities on the matter,” he told reporters during a media night hosted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak here tonight.
therakyatpost.com
There have been several kidnapping cases at Sabah's eastern coast since last year
Constable Zakiah Aleip, 26, was kidnapped from Mabul Water Bungalows Resort in Semporna on July 12, 2014 by eight Filipino gunmen while his colleague, Corporal Abdul Rajah Jamuan, 32, was shot dead by gunmen in that incident. It was reported that the kidnappers, believed to be Abu Sayyaf terrorists, had demanded up to RM5 million for Zakiah's release.
In another case, fish farm operator Chan Sai Chuin, 32, was abducted by Abu Sayyaf militants from Sabah's east coast on June 16 last year.
Chan and a Filipino worker identified only as Maslan, were abducted by two armed men at 12.40am from the fish farm they operated in Kampung Air Sapang. Claims have surfaced from Philippines military intelligence and Jolo sources that about RM780,000 in ransom was paid to secure his release on December 9, but Chan said he was told there was none.
Another fish farm manager, Yang Zai Lin, was kidnapped by armed men in Pulau Baik, near Lahad Datu, Sabah, in May 2014. Yang was rescued and returned to China after the ordeal.
themalaysianinsider.com