KOTA KINABALU: Family members of the four Sarawakian hostages, who were released by their Abu Sayaff captors on Wednesday (June 8), are expected to be reunited in an undisclosed location somewhere in the state capital.
The family members arrived at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) under tight security on an AirAsia flight around 4pm today.
Efforts by reporters to interview the family were unsuccessful as they were escorted by police from the Special Branch unit.
Upon arrival, the families were immediately ushered into three vehicles before being rushed off from the airport to the undisclosed location.
It was learnt that Teck Kang, Teck Chii, Hung Sing and Johnny had arrived earlier in Kota Kinabalu from Sandakan, after being released from their captors on Wednesday, early yesterday morning.
It was also said that the four men were taken to the Sabah police headquarters in Kepayan for a debriefing by the police.
A source said that the four men are in good health and would be flown to Kuala Lumpur latest early Friday morning (June 10).
The four Malaysians from Sibu were abducted from an MV Massive 6 tugboat by armed masked men on April 2 as they were returning to Tawau after delivering timber cargo to Manila.
After 37 days held in captivity by their Abu Sayaff captors, they were finally freed on Wednesday morning.
Their release was also confirmed by Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar in a statement.
The statement also confirmed that no ransom was made for the release of the four Sarawakians abducted by Abu Sayyaf militants.