Police confirm kidnap of four Malaysians in Sabah

MIRI: Police have confirmed that four Malaysians were kidnapped by eight armed men in the waters of Semporna, Sabah while returning to Malaysia from the Philippines on Friday night.

Miri police chief ACP Junaidi Bujang said that four men aged between 21 and 34 working on board the MV Masfive 6 vessel which had transported timber from Malaysia to Manila in the Philippines, had been abducted in the 7pm incident.

"The incident occurred near Pulau Ligitan, Semporna. The ship was not carrying any cargo at the time," he said.

ACP Junaidi said all four men were from Sibu and the identities of the abductors were still unknown.

The victims were taken away in a speedboat and their fate is still unknown.

ACP Junaidi said the names of the abducted victims could not be disclosed at the moment to avoid panic among their family members.

"A police report was lodged by the shipping company's administrative manager at the Miri central police station last night," he said.

He said the 35-year-old administration manager, who is based here, lodged a police report after receiving a phone call from a colleague in Sabah about the abduction.

"A copy of the police report was faxed to the operations room of the Sabah police contingent headquarters to follow up," he said. - Bernama