Kunak kidnap: Suspected accomplice questioned amid claims of RM12mil ransom demand

KOTA KINABALU: A suspected accomplice of the kidnap-for-ransom group was questioned by Philippines police amid claims that gunmen were demanding RM12mil from the family of fish breeder Chan Sai Chiun.

Tawi Tawi police chief Colonel Joey Salido said the suspect from the Sitangkai area was detained on suspicion of being part of the group on Tuesday but had been released due to the lack of conclusive evidence.

"We believe that the suspect who lives at our border islands was in cohorts with the kidnap-for-ransom gang. We have taken his picture and fingerprints before he was released on Thursday," Col Salido said when contacted by The Star on Friday.

The latest effort by the Philippines to track down cross-border kidnap groups comes following the kidnap of the 32-year old fish farm operator Chan from Kunak and a Filipino farm worker Maslan, 20, on Monday.

However, Col Salido said that checks by the Armed Forces of Philippines in Sitangkai and Sibutu islands close to the border of Sabah’s Semporna could not locate the gunmen and their hostages.

"We are still checking within islands in Tawi Tawi and it is difficult to say (as of now) if the gunmen had entered Jolo in the Sulu province,’’ he said, adding that they were checking on various tip-offs to locate the gang.

On Wednesday, informed sources in Sabah said that Chan’s wife Chin Pek Nyen, 42, had received a call from the gunmen holding her husband and that she was allowed to talk to him briefly.

Initial indication by the sources was that there was no immediate demand for ransom but it was learned that they had made a demand of RM12mil for his freedom.

Senior Sabah police and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) could not be reached to verify whether a claim of RM12mil was made to the family.

Informed sources had earlier told The Star that they believe Chan was unharmed and was now in the notorious Abu Sayyaf hideouts in Jolo after gunmen sneaked into the area within 48-hours of the kidnapping.

It still cannot be ascertained if fish farm worker Maslan is 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.   

Initial demands for ransom are usually high before negotiators move in to work out an agreeable and realistic "price".

The kidnap- for-ransom group normally “sells” their hostages to different Abu Sayyaf groups who then negotiate with their 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.