Empty tugboat: Police do not rule out possibility five Malaysians abducted

Police do not rule out the possibility that five Malaysian citizens have been abducted from an empty tugboat which was found in the Dent Haven waters of Lahad Datu yesterday.

Confirming this, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said those suspected missing are Abd Rahim Summas, Tayudin Anjut, Mohd Ridzua Ismail, Zulkipli Ali and Fandy Bakran.

All of them are crew members of a locally-owned company.

The boat was ferrying stones from Semporna to Sandakan before it was discovered by a group of anglers in Lahad Datu with the engine still running but all of them were not on board.

It was found abandoned in the waters Monday morning, with the ignition still on.

At the same time, Rashid said police were still investigating the matter and advised the public to remain calm and not to speculate.

The empty tugboat found with the ignition still on in Lahad Datu waters on Monday. - PDRM Photo

If confirmed, the case is the second abduction case in 10 days.

On July 9, three Indonesian citizens were reportedly kidnapped in the waters near Felda Sahabat in Lahad Datu.