Chan Sai Chuin -filepic
KOTA KINABALU: About 10 million pesos (RM780,000) is believed to have been delivered to the Abu Sayyaf group who released Kunak fish breeder Chan Sai Chuin on Tuesday.
Philippines sources in Jolo island, where Chan was held for 177 days, said the negotiators delivered the money to an Abu Sayyaf sub-group, which is controlled by the Sawadjan brothers and led by Al-Habsi Misaya.
They said the ransom of 30 million pesos (RM2.34mil) demanded initially had been reduced.
“You must also take into consideration the operational expenditure and money to pay off emissaries, local officials and different faction leaders for a safe passage,” said a source who requested anonymity.
It is understood that about 10 million pesos or so reached the hands of the group prior to Chan’s release.
It is believed that the Sawadjan group had been holding him in Jolo island.
Chan was snatched from a Kunak fish farm on June 16.
Chan was initially expected to be released together with another Malaysian hostage – Kons Zakiah Aleip, 26, who was snatched from Mabul island on July 12.
However, the source said the negotiations for Zakiah’s release hit a snag due to the disagreement over the amount of money delivered.
The sources said negotiations had resumed for Zakiah and “it’s a question of money”.
