High ransom demand hampering release of marine cop, says Sabah police
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KOTA KINABALU, Aug 11 — Negotiations to secure the release of kidnapped marine policeman Kons Zakiah Aleip have stalled due to the high ransom demanded by the abductors.
State police commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said Zakiah was in good health and that the abductors have made 42 phone calls so far — asking for ransom, confirming Zakiah’s well-being and allowing him to call family.
“We need some time to negotiate his release, they are asking for too high a price,” said Jalaluddin.
Previous reports said the abductors had asked for “10 million” but did not specify the currency. Jalaluddin declined to disclose figures.
Zakiah, 26, was abducted from the Mabul Water Bungalow Resort by six heavily-armed gunmen on speedboats.
His colleague, Corporal Rajah Jamuan, 32, was killed in the attack on July 12.
Policed said the abductors, who are being pursued by Filipino authorities, are on the move to elude capture.
“We are of course monitoring all the calls which are made between 12 noon and 5pm, never at night,” he said.”
The attack on July 12 was the latest in a spate of kidnappings involving Filipino gunmen off the east coast of Sabah which shares a sea border with the Philippines.
A dusk-to-dawn curfew was enforced on July 19 to August 3 and later extended to August 17.
Another extension is possible.
The curfew which covers the seas off the shores of six districts – Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak and Tawau covers an area of some 121,270 sq miles.
Jalaludin said he will give details on another recent kidnap victim soon.
Chan Sai Chuin, a 32-year old fish farm manager was abducted from Kampung Sapang near Kunak on the east coast of Sabah on June 16.
