KOTA KINABALU: Police have not ruled out the possibility that the same ‘kidnap-for-ransom’ (KFR) group may have been involved in the two recent kidnapping incidents at Singamata Reef Resort in Semporna and Pulau Baik in Lahad Datu.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib however said such information could not be revealed to the public for now as it could interfere with police investigation.
“All I can say for now is ‘Yes’, based on the modus operandi of the group, which is to kidnap for ransom,” he said, adding that police have identified the suspects involved in the kidnapping incident.
Meanwhile, commenting on the release of the two hostages, 29-year-old Gao Hua Yuan and 40-year-old Marcy Dayawan @ Mimi, Hamza revealed that both women did not suffer any serious injuries during the April 2 kidnapping incident.
He said a Philippines special force managed to secure the release of both women, who were held captive in Jolo Island, and they were immediately flown to Kota Kinabalu from Sandakan on May 30.
Hamza said both Gao and Marcy were then flown to Bukit Aman in Kuala Lumpur the following day for their statement to be recorded by the police.
He also said that Bukit Aman was still carrying out investigation on Marcy before handing her back to the Philippines Embassy.
“I have not seen the report of the investigation paper but we can assure you that investigation is carried out from all angles.
“This includes the Crime Prevention Act (amendment and extension) 2013 to ensure the mastermind will be arrested and those who may be involved,” he said.
After almost two months in captivity, both Gao, from Shanghai, and Marcy, a Filipina resort worker at Singamata Reef Resort in Semporna were rescued from Jolo Island by security forces around 10 am on May 30.
Both women were then taken to Sandakan airport around 4.30pm the same day and were immediately flown to the state capital where they arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Terminal 1 at 10.15 pm.
On May 31, both women were then flow out from the state capital to Kuala Lumpur where they were taken to Bukit Aman to assist police investigation.
Gao and Marcy were initially abducted by masked gunmen from Singamata Reef Resort in Semporna around 10.30pm on April 2.
The gunmen are believed to be part of kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) groups from the southern Philippines.
The incident happened when seven gunmen with M.14 carbine rifles, burst into the 60-room resort located about two nautical miles from Semporna town.
After grabbing both women, the gunmen then forced the duo into a boat and fled into the dark, believed heading towards Pulau Gaya in Semporna, as the 61 Chinese, Iranian and Malaysian tourists and 49 workers at the resort looked on helplessly.