ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 15, 2014) – A Malaysian police officer abducted by gunmen has contacted his family by phone to say that he is alright, but is being held by an armed group, reports said Tuesday.
The Malaysian’s Star Online quoted Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar as saying that Kons Zakiah Aleip has phoned his wife Sharifah Erna Berson, but it was unknown whether the officer is being held in Sabah or southern Philippines, although authorities believed the Abu Sayyaf could be behind the abduction.
The Abu Sayyaf has been tagged as behind at least 6 kidnappings in Sabah since last year.
So far there have been no demands for ransom and Malaysian security officials have been working closely with their Filipino counterparts to track down Zakiah, who was snatched July 12 by eight masked gunmen who also shot dead a Malaysian policeman Kpl Abdul Rajah in a failed raid on Mabul Water Bungalows off Pulau Sipadan.
The armed men where on a speedboat, engaged policemen guarding dive resorts located in the area. The daring raid occurred days after Abu Sayyaf released Yang Zai Lin, a 34-year old Chinese fish farm manager they kidnapped in Sabah on May 6. Yang was freed by the Abu Sayyaf in southern Philippines following a series of ransom negotiations.
Yang, manager of the Wonderful Terrace Fish Farm at Pulau Baik in Lahad Datu town, was whisked to a speed boat by his handlers and taken to Sabah. It was unknown if ransom had been paid by Malaysia o Yang’s family in exchange for his freedom. The Chinese Consulate in Malaysia said Yang is a native of Guizhou province.
Militants have freed several foreigners kidnapped in Sabah in recent months in exchange for huge ransoms. The Abu Sayyaf resorted to ransom kidnappings to raise money for the purchase weapons and fund terror attacks in the Philippines. It is still holding at least 10 people, mostly foreigners. (Mindanao Examiner)
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