Close relative of Jamalul Kiram held

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KOTA KINABALU: A close relative of self-proclaimed Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram III has been detained by police who continue their search for about 20 other key suspects linked to the Sulu armed group’s incursion in Kampung Tanduo.

Police are tightlipped on the details of the Kiram family circle they are hunting for, but at least two are believed to be a brother and cousin of Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram who led the gunmen to Tanduo.

The brother, who is involved in transporting fish, has been staying in Lahad Datu with his family and moved to Semporna recently.

He disappeared after initially assisting in negotiations to end the standoff which began on Feb 12.

It is not known if he was the one detained as the Kiram family has many relatives living in various parts of Sabah and the peninsula.

Those arrested so far are believed to include at least seven uniformed personnel and a local politician as well as many sympathisers in Lahad Datu and Semporna where raids are ongoing .

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib told the daily media briefing Monday that six more people have been detained for suspected links to terrorists, bringing the total to 97 detained under Section 130(C) of the Security Offences and Special Measures Act 2012.

He said 125 others had also been detained for trying to enter areas where Ops Daulat was being conducted.