The Malaysian Insider – 1 hour 13 minutes agoRELATED CONTENT
- Foreign women abducted from Semporna rescued, no ransom paid, says Najib
The release of the two kidnapped women yesterday in a joint effort by Malaysian and Philippines authorities was only achieved after the payment of a "large ransom", Reuters reported today.
The report contradicts Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's statement yesterday that "no ransom was paid" to secure the release of Chinese tourist Gao Huayun and Filipino hotel worker Marcy Dayawan, who were kidnapped from the Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort, in Sabah, on April 2.
Najib had tweeted yesterday, while on an official visit to China, that "I have just been briefed by @PDRMsia that the two women abducted from a resort in Sabah last Apr have been rescued by our authorities.
"No ransom paid to secure their release. Success due to cooperation of Malaysia and Philippines security forces. I thank all involved."
However, Philippine police sources told Reuters that a large ransom was paid for the women.
"It has been rare for Abu Sayyaf to release abductees without a ransom being paid,” the report added.
However it did not include any details of the supposed ransom, such as the amount paid and the source of the funds.
The Islamist terrorist group had previously demanded 500 million Philippine pesos (RM36.8 million) for Gao’s release, but did not make any ransom demand for Dayawan.
The Islamist terrorist group had previously demanded 500 million Philippine pesos (RM36.8 million) for Gao’s release, but did not make any ransom demand for Dayawan.
On April 2, seven gunmen entered the resort at night and abducted 29-year-old Gao from Shanghai and 40-year-old Marcy from the resort.
It was reported that Malaysian authorities believed the Abu Sayyaf, an Islamist militant group based in and around the southern Philippines, was behind the abduction and that they had help on the inside.
Following Gao and Marcy's kidnapping in April, a police official in Sabah had revealed that the abduction was also likely to have involved resort staff.
"The Abu Sayyaf has been active in the area over the past 15 years and have been responsible for a string of kidnappings," the official had informed The Malaysian Insider on condition of anonymity.
"In many cases, the victims were released after a substantial ransom was paid. Last night's case is expected to be no different," he had said.
The incident was one of three in the past seven months involving a breach in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone established after the Lahad Datu "invasion" by Sulu forces early last year.
In November last year, Taiwanese tourist Chang An Wei was abducted from the Pom Pom island resort while her partner, Li Min Hsu was shot dead.
Chang was freed a month later after a substantial ransom was paid to the Abu Sayyaf via intermediaries.
Earlier this month, Chinese national Yang Zai Lin, 34, was abducted by Abu Sayyaf gunmen from a fish farm near Pulau Babi, Lahad Datu, and taken away in a speedboat.
Despite Malaysia's security dragnet, the kidnappers managed to escape into international waters and were believed to have headed for southern Philippines.
Yang, a Guangzhou native, had been running the fish farm for three years. The farm is owned by Hong Kong-based Wonderful Terrace Sdn Bhd.
Yang was taken away by five men dressed in army fatigues. At least three of them were said to be armed with M-16 assault rifles.
The Abu Sayyaf is an Islamic militant group which rose to prominence in the 1990s as they fought for an independent Islamic province in the Philippines.
Its members have been known to be involved in bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortion activities. – May 31, 2014.
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