Kidnappers extend fish farm operator’s ransom deadline by 20 days

Chin Pek Nyuen, the wife of kidnapped fish farm manager Chan Sai Chiun with a picture of them together.

KOTA KINABALU: Kunak fish farm operator Chan Sai Chuin has been given a 20-day respite by his Abu Sayyaf captors who have threatened to behead him by today if a RM3mil ransom is not paid up.

His wife Chin Pek Nyen said police had told her that the kidnappers gave the authorities another 20 days to meet their demand.

“They managed to persuade the kidnappers to give them more time to raise the money for his release,” said the 42-year-old yesterday.

However, Chin said the kidnappers continued to refuse to let her speak to her 32-year-old husband, saying that they would only allow her to do so in the next few days.

“It’s been almost four months since I last heard my husband’s voice and I really want to speak to him.

“I hope they will keep their promise and let me talk to him after a few days,” she said.

Chan was abducted by the Filipino gunmen from his fish farm during a 12.45am raid on June 16.

Another Malaysian, marine policeman Kons Zakiah Aleip, 26, who was abducted from Pulau Mabul on July 12, is still being held by gunmen in Jolo, southern Philippines.

The kidnappers, said Chin, would only tell her that her husband was “doing well” but claimed that he was “not around” whenever she asked to speak to him.

Chin, who lives in Kunak, is currently in Kuala Lumpur to meet businessmen who had offered donations to meet the ransom.

“My in-laws are asking me every day whether he is still alive and if he will be rescued at all. I don’t know what to tell them anymore,” she said.

Although police were still negotiating and communicating with the kidnappers, Chin said they continued to request to talk to her.

“Last time, there was only one man who dealt with me and asked me questions but now, there are three of them,” she said, adding that she found it strange that the kidnappers seemed eager to know her location.

“But I don’t tell them where I am exactly as the police told me not to,” she said, expressing hope that her husband could be rescued soon.