Lahad Datu abducted victim rescued

A Chinese national, who was abducted from Pulau Baik, Lahad Datu in May by a group of gunmen, has been rescued by the police early today.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said Yang Zai Lin, 34, was now in Sandakan and expected to be flown to China from Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

"He has been rescued and investigations will be conducted," Khalid told reporters after attending a briefing on the restructuring of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) here today.

He, however, declined to give details.

Yang, who hailed from Guangzhao, was abducted by five gunmen from the Wonderful Terrace Fish Farm where he worked as a manager at 2.45 am on May 6.

The briefing was chaired by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa. Present were Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman, and ESSCOM commander DCP Datuk Abd Rashid Harun.

On the briefing, Khalid said Abdul Ghani gave details on the restructuring of ESSCOM which was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Tuesday.

"The briefing focused on understanding, responsibilities and roles of agencies involved in the restructuring exercise in enhancing the security of eastern Sabah," Khalid said.

Najib announced the restructuring of the ESSCOM with the setting up of two major components — security and defence management as well as enforcement and public action.

Abd Rashid was appointed ESSCOM commander to lead three special divisions, namely intelligence, security and defence as well as ESSZone operations effective July 15.