Perished policemen identified

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LAHAD DATU:  Police has released the identities of the six policemen who perished in the Kampung Seri Jaya Simunul, Semporna, sneak attack, yesterday.

They are Bukit Aman Special Branch (SB) Superintendant Ibrahim Lebar from Subang Jaya, Selangor; Semporna Special Branch chief ASP Michael Padel from Kampung Bidayuh, Serian, Sarawak; Sergeant Baharin Hamit (Sabah Police Headquarters in Kepayan SB) from Taman Nelly, Kota Kinabalu.

Sergeant Aziz Sarikun (General Operations Force Tawau) from Taman Pelangi, Semporna; Corporal Salam Togiran (Tawau Logistics Department) from Bandar Seri Indah, Tawau; and Lans Corporal Mohd Azrul Tukiran (Tawau GOF) from Kampung Rantau Panjang, Selangor.

State Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib in disclosing this yesterday said the bodies were flown out to their respective place of origins via the Tawau Airport beginning at 1pm yesterday.

“We have accounted for all police officers and personnel who were involved in the operation last Saturday, including those perished,” Hamza told reporters after a press conference at the Felda Residence Sahabat, some 130 kilometres from here.

He also confirmed that several weapons were recovered at Kampung  Seri Jaya Simunul, including a M16 and hand grenade from the gunman who was killed by villagers in Kampung Senallang Lama on Sunday.

Hamza also said that police were still investigating on the possible remnants of the gunmen in Semporna.

“As I have said before, we believe that there may not be more than 10 of them. We have gunned down six and one by the villagers, which brings their number to seven,” he said.

Touching on the Kunak case, he said villagers have been allowed to return to their homes in Kampung Lomaling and Kamphng Dasar Lama after police confirmed these areas are safe.

Villagers fled the two villages following sightings of 10 men, including three dressed in army-like attire, at around 10pm on Saturday.

“After surveillance and monitoring, these men were no where to be found, so there may or may not be true,” he said.

However, Hamza said they will continue to monitor these three locations.

On another development, he said police is workinh closely with the army, especially on the technical part, to bring this stand off to an end soon.