Ransom demand for Sandakan kidnapped hostages reduced by half

By Elton Gomes
KOTA KINABALU: The ransom demand for the release of two Malaysians reportedly held hostage on an island in the Philippines by a ‘kidnap-for-ransom’ (KFR) group has now been reduced to half from the initial demand.
Sabah Police Commissioner, Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman, in disclosing this, said that the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) and other relevant parties are still in negotiations with the KFR group to reach an amicable settlement.
“After numerous negotiations with the kidnappers, they have agreed to reduce the ransom demand from the initial RM30 million per person to about RM15 million per person. We are, however, seeking an amicable settlement on humanitarian grounds as the hostages’ families do not have the means to come up with the huge ransom demands.
“As I have said previously, the police will not entertain such demand but we will do all we can to secure their (hostages) release,” he reiterated during a press conference at the Sabah Police Contingent Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house in Kepayan Wednesday.
Among those present were Head of State Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Juhar Mahiruddin and his consort Toh Puan Datin Seri Norlidah R.M. Jasni. Also present were Jalaluddin’s wife, Datin Hajah Siti Aishah Hj Haron, and senior police officers.
On May 14, Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, and Bernard Ghen Ted Fen, 39, were taken hostage by four armed men at the Ocean King Restaurant in Sandakan in full view of about 100 customers.
Nyuk Fun is the co-owner of the restaurant while Bernard, from Sarawak, is an electrical consultant in Cambodia.
The group responsible for the 7.20 pm incident is said to be orchestrated by the Muktadil brothers who reportedly made their escape to Jolo Island in the Southern Philippines.
Elaborating further, Jalaluddin said, both hostages were reportedly in good health and are believed to be on an island in southern Philippines.
“We are still monitoring this case including all communications made between the families and the kidnappers. The KFR group are hiding on a remote island and constantly move from one place to another to escape detection, making it difficult for the security forces to pinpoint their location,” he said.