Fishermen Samiun Maniu, 27, Maharudin Lunani, 48, and Muhammas Farhan, 27, were abducted by seven masked men on Sept 23. File Photo
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah has confirmed that a call has been made by the kidnap for ransom (KFR) group to a family member of one of the three Indonesian fishermen, requesting them to speed up payment for their release.
Omar said information received from their counterparts in the Philippines confirmed the call was made a couple of days after the three fishermen were taken hostage by seven masked men off Tambisan Island in Lahad Datu on Sept 23.
“I can confirm that a call has been made by the KFR group to one of the abductee’s family member.
“No ransom amount was mentioned, but the kidnappers urged the family members to speed up the ransom payment,” Omar said today.
Three Indonesian fishermen, Samiun Maniu, 27, Maharudin Lunani, 48, and Muhammas Farhan, 27, were abducted by seven masked men armed with machine guns in two pump boats off Tambisan Island in Lahad Datu at around 11.55am on Sept 23.
Two fishing vessels had left for Tambisan from Sandakan jetty on Sept 21, arriving at their intended destination a day later.
Around 11.55am on Sept 23, seven mask men armed with assault rifles and pistol in two pump boats approached both fishing vessels before boarding one of the vessel.
After robbing four fishermen from the first fishing boat of their belongings, the gunmen then boarded the second fishing vessel with the three Indonesian fishermen.
Several minutes later, the fishermen were taken hostage by their kidnappers and were believed to be headed towards Tawi-Tawi island in Southern Philippines.
The case is currently being investigated under Section 4 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971.