Suspected cross-border kidnapper shot dead in Lahad Datu

File pic of a Malaysian Maritime vessel patrolling the coast line of Lahad Datu near Tanjung Labian. - AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

KOTA KINABALU: A suspected cross-border kidnapper was shot dead by security forces in the east coast of Sabah early Monday morning.

The gunman, who is believed to be part of a new cross-border kidnap group, was killed in the waters off Lahad Datu at about 3am.

There are no further details on the incident at this time.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din is scheduled to give a press conference in Lahad Datu at 2pm, a media advisory from the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) said.

A number of known kidnap for ransom groups have been eliminated following intensive operations against Abu Sayyaf since late last year.

However, there have been intelligence reports since late October stating that certain groups in the southern Philippines were planning to launch kidnap raids in Sabah  waters.

There have been no reports of kidnappings in Sabah waters so far this year.