Three kidnapped Indonesian fishermen in Lahad Datu freed

Three Indonesian fishermen who were kidnapped by five armed men in the Felda Sahabat waters last July were freed last night.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) Commander Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid confirmed this to Bernama.

The fishermen are Lorence Koten, 34, Teodorus Kopong, 42, and Emanuel, 46. It was reported that the Abu Sayyaf group had freed the three victims and handed them over to the Moro National Liberation Front before they were sent to representatives of the Indonesian Government in Jolo, the Philippines.

Wan Abdul Bari however said, their next destinations were unknown.

On July 9, the fishermen were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf group while fishing about 3.6 nautical miles off Kampung Sinakut near Lahad Datu here. - BERNAMA