11 crew of fishing boat questioned over kidnap of two members - police

The eleven crew of a fishing boat, who were saved after their two colleagues were kidnapped in waters of Merabung yesterday, are still being questioned by the police, Lahad Datu district police chief ACP Hamzah Ahmad said today.

Asked if the kidnapping was orchestrated by the remaining Abu Sayyaf members, Hamzah said the matter was still being investigated.

"So far the kidnappers have not yet contacted any of the families of the victims" he told reporters after a working visit by Sabah Police Deputy Commissioner Datuk Awang Sahari EM Nadzeer to the Lahad Datu district police headquarters here, today.

He said in the incident at about 7.30pm yesterday, a group of five armed men kidnapped two Indonesian fishermen, Saparuddin Koni, 43, (skipper) and Sawal Maryam, 36, (assistant skipper) in the waters of Merabung.

The kidnappers also took away five mobile phones and money belonging to the 11 crew, who were not harmed in the incident, he added. --BERNAMA