One of Muktadil brothers linked to kidnap of Malaysians detained

PETALING JAYA: One of the Muktadil brothers linked to the kidnapping of two Malaysian hostages in May has been detained by Filipino police. 

According to Jolo police chief Major Junpikar Sitin, Abu Sayyaf member Kadafi Muktadil (pix), who was involved in a vehicular accident, was receiving treatment at a hospital when he was arrested by Panamao police. 

"Yes, he was involved in a vehicular accident and Panamao police department is handling the case," Major Sitin told The Star Sunday.  

He said that Kadafi checked into Sulu Provincial Hospital using the name Amin Maing and was later arrested by Filipino authorities on Saturday evening. 

Major Sitin said that Kadafi was still in hospital receiving treatment. 

According to the Philippine Inquirer, two of Kadafi's cohorts who were also confined in the same hospital managed to elude arrest by escaping the facility.  

Commander of Joint Task Group Sulu Brig Gen Alan Arrojado told Philippine Inquirer that the arrest was planned and carried out after authorities received information about the presence of three Abu Sayyaf members in the hospital. 

The three reportedly met an accident when their vehicle collided with another vehicle in Old Panamao town in Sulu.

 “These are the men utilised by subleaders Alhabsy Misaya and Angah Adji in kidnappings in Sabah, Malaysia,” said Arrojado. 

Kadafi was reportedly charged with illegal possession of firearms and reckless imprudence resulting in serious physical injury for the accident he was involved in.  

This comes in the wake of an arrest of another Abu Sayyaf member Saddam Jailani on Friday at the Port of Jolo.  

Jailani together with Kadafi and his brother Mindas were involved in the kidnapping of restaurant manager Thien Nyuk Fun and Sarawakian tourist Bernard Then Ted Fen from the Ocean King Seafood Restaurant in Sandakan in May. 

Thien has since been released on Nov 8, and Then was beheaded on Nov 17. 

The Muktadil brothers were born to a life of violent crime, specialising in cross-border kidnapping. 

The brothers were part of the southern Philippines’ Tawi-Tawi island-based kidnap-for-ransom group. 

They are believed to have over 40 men for their kidnap-for-ransom activities and four boats equipped with 40HP to 70HP outboard engines.