Two Indonesian fishermen kidnapped in Kertam waters - ESSCom

Its commander, Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said the two victims aged 52 and 46 years, were kidnapped in two separate incidents in the same waters between 11am and 11.45am Saturday.

"In the first incident, five armed men kidnapped the 52-year-old skipper leaving behind the crew aged 47 and 35 years," he told Bernama.

Soon after the first incident he said, the armed men kidnapped the skipper of another boat leaving three other people onboard the vessel including the victim's 10-year-old son.

"The information was received after the crew moored their vessels into the Sandakan jetty at 6.40pm," he said.

The group of five armed men was believed to be based in Tawi-Tawi Island and might not be directly linked with the Abu Sayyaf group.