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LAHAD DATU: Two Indonesian fishermen were kidnapped while fishing on the Merabung seas on Saturday night.
In the 7.30pm incident, 43-year-old skipper Saparuddin Koni and his 36-year-old assistant Sawal Maryam were abducted from their boat by a group of gunmen.
According to District Police Chief ACP Hamzah Ahmad, the group of armed men intercepted the fishing boat while the victim was fishing in the area.
The police were alerted five minutes after the incident by other fishermen as the boat’s radio was destroyed by the gunmen.
The kidnappers also took five mobile phones belonging to the crew, the boat’s engine and RM1,850 in cash.
“The remaining crew members were assisted by other fishermen in the area and they arrived at the jetty in Kunak at about 3am.
“The kidnappers are believed to have fled into international waters after the incident,” said Hamzah.
He added that police have yet to receive any calls or demands and are currently investigating the incident from various angles.
This is the second incident this month that has taken place in the vicinity of Sabah’s east coast.
The last such kidnapping occurred in Kinabatangan on Nov 5, in which two men were kidnapped while out at sea.