KOTA KINABALU: More than one call have been made by the abductors, believed to family members of the two women who were kidnapped by masked gunmen from a resort island off Semporna.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib yesterday confirmed this but refused to reveal further information amidst investigation.
Hamza also did not reveal whether ransom payment was requested by the abductors, believed to be part of a kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) group from the southern Philippines.
“All I can tell you is that both women are well and safe. Our prime concern now is to rescue both women.
“We know where they are and we will not let anything that could jeopardise their safety,” he said at a press conference at the Sabah police headquarters in Kepayan here yesterday.
Hamza added the police were investigating whether the case was a kidnap-for-ransom, or whether those involved were members of the Abu Sayyaf or a splinter group of the Abu Sayyaf.
“The police are working closely with the China and Philippine embassies and are strengthening ties with the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) to ensure better security within Sabah and its waters,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hamza said four foreigners had recently been detained by police, bringing the number of arrests to eight people with interest, to assist in their investigation.
“These eight people are of interest to us to help in our investigation. They are mostly women and related to one of the abductees,” he said.
“The figure is among 22 people comprising 15 men and seven women aged between 16 and 60, nabbed from the resort, nearby resorts and Semporna township since the April 2 incident, while the remaining detainees would be referred to the Immigration Department for further action,” he said.
The case is currently being investigated under Section 3 (1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961 which carries the mandatory death penalty, and Section 4 of the Firearms Act (Increased Penalty) 1971, which carries life imprisonment and liable to whipping of not less than six strokes.
A Chinese tourist and a Filipino worker identified as Gao Hua Yuan, 29, and Marcy Dayawan @ Mimi, 40, respectively were abducted by seven masked gunmen about 10.30pm on April 2 when they burst into the 60-room resort, which is located about two nautical miles from Semporna town, with M14 carbine rifles.
After grabbing both women, the gunmen forced them into a boat and fled into the dark, believed headed towards Pulau Gaya in Semporna, as 61 Chinese, Iranian and Malaysian tourists and 49 workers at the resort looked helplessly.