Police not involved with negotiations on ransom money - IGP
He said ransom money amounting to RM12 million was believed to have been handed over to a third party who had contacted the family directly.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar today clarified that the police were not involved in the negotiations on the ransom money to release the four Malaysians kidnapped near Pulau Ligitan, Sabah.
He said ransom money amounting to RM12 million was believed to have been handed over to a third party who had contacted the family directly, offering the release of the four men.
“We stress here that we did not pay any money but the families were contacted by the kidnappers, third party and their agents,” he said.
He said police had accompanied the families to Zamboanga, Philippines where they were asked to meet the third party who wanted to help secure the release of the four men.
“Police only accompanied them to ensure their safety. We were not involved in the negotiation done by the family members,” he added.
The four Sarawakian hostages who were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf militant group were Wong Teck Kang,31, Wong Hung Sing,34, Wong Teck Chii,29, and Johny Lau Jung Hien,21, all from Sibu, Sarawak.
The four men, who were the crew of a tugboat returning to Sarawak from the Philippines, were abducted in the waters of Pulau Ligitan, Semporna, Sabah, on April 1.
The Abu Sayyaf militants released the men just after midnight on Jolo island, last Wednesday.
After meeting with family members and completing health checks in Sandakan, the four were brought to Kota Kinabalu.
They were brought to Kota Kinabalu on a police aircraft and had returned to their homes in Sibu yesterday.
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