Kidnappers contact fish breeder's wife

KOTA KINABALU: Filipino gunmen, who snatched fish breeder Chan Pek Nyen from Kunak, have made contact with his wife Chin Pek Nyen.

The call was made on Wednesday when the gunmen informed her they were holding her 32-year-old husband. She was also given the chance to talk to him briefly, it was learned from informed sources yesterday. The sources said no ransom demand was made during the call.

They said they believe Chan was unharmed and was now in a hideout of the notorious Abu Sayyaf in Jolo.

However, it is not known if Filip­ino fish farm worker Maslan, 20, was with them as he was believed to have escaped by jumping off the gunmen’s boat following the kidnapping at the fish farm in waters off Kg Sapang, about 60km from Lahad Datu, on Monday.

Kidnap-for-ransom groups in Tawi Tawi are believed to be responsible for recent kidnappings in Sabah’s east coast.

The groups normally “sell” their victims to Abu Sayyaf groups, who then negotiate with the victims’ families for their release.

Most kidnap victims are usually released unharmed.

An Abu Sayyaf group is still holding Chinese national Yang Zai Lin, 34, who was snatched by Filipino gunmen from the Wonderful Terrace Fish Farm in Lahad Datu waters on May 6.

On May 30, Chinese tourist Gao Huayun, 29 and Filipino resort worker Marcy Darawan, who were abducted from the Singamata Reef Resort in Semporna on April 2, were freed by the Abu Sayyaf gunmen after negotiations.