Kidnapped child still safe in Sabah - Sabah Police Commissioner

Police believe the three-year-old boy who was abducted in the carjacking of a Hilux-Vigo vehicle left by his father at a petrol station in Kampung Air here in the early morning of May 9, is still in the state.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said police were confident the boy is in a safe condition.

"We are only unable to detect where he is now and because of that we need information from the public to help us," he told a press conference after officiating a blood donation programme in conjunction with the 207th Police Day at the Karamunsing Complex here on Tuesday.

Hamza said the boy's father Low Yee Shang, 31, had been detained as police found his report and explanation to be contradictory and believed he had certain motives.

"Police are also looking at the background of the family and found certain things which could be seen as motives, but this is all under investigation," he said.

He said Low was also being investigated under the Child Act for negligence resulting in the loss of a child. A friend of the child's parents has also been detained to assist in the investigation.

On Low's detention in connection to a cheating case in Klang, Hamza said the police had only been informed that the suspect was wanted by the Klang police and were waiting for further information.

The father of the child who was released from detention on Monday was re-arrested also Monday in connection with another case, which was reported in Klang, Selangor, four years ago.

The child, Low Min You, who was wearing a white t-shirt and short pants was understood to be sleeping in the vehicle when he was kidnapped.

The vehicle was later recovered, without the child, at the clock tower in Bukit Bendera at about 9.30am, four hours after the incident, on May 9.

In a separate development, Hamza said the police were still cooperating with the Philippines authorities in an effort to save and free all kidnap victims from Pulau Baik, Lahad Datu and Singgahmata Adventure Reef and Resort in Semporna.

"All the kidnap victims on Pulau Baik and Singgahmata Adventure Reef and Resort are in safe condition. We have identified several individuals who are believed to be able to assist," he said.