Latest Attack On Sabah's Island Grow More Violent With Killing And Abduction Of Policemen

A ransom demand of “10 million” has purportedly been made for the release of Constable Zakiah Aleip, the marine policeman abducted by suspected Filipino gunmen in Mabul Island, Sabah.

themalaymailonline.com

Quoting unnamed sources, local daily New Straits Times reported that a “brief” call to demand the amount was made to the Semporna marine police headquarters’ operation centre at 10.50pm on Sunday, a day after the abduction.

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Zakiah, who was first put on the line, told the inspector who answered that his kidnappers demanded for “no less than 10 million”, according to the report, before someone took over the phone and told the police in English that the group expected payment,

themalaymailonline.com

“I demand 10 million,” the unidentified speaker was alleged to have reiterated before ending the call, according to the NST. It is unclear what currency was intended by the “10 million”. The report noted that no instructions were given or conditions set, nor were any guarantees made that the 26-year-old would be released unharmed once the ransom is paid.

themalaymailonline.com

Police Constable Zakiah Aleip who was kidnapped by Filipino gunmen telephoned his wife last night to say he was alive, The Star reported on 14 July 2014. Khalid also said they did not know where Zakiah was being held but roughly knew the identities of some of those involved in the attack on Pulau Mabul on Saturday night.

themalaysianinsider.com

A policeman is believed to been killed and another taken hostage by gunmen after an ambush on Mabul Island, off Semporna in Sabah late yesterday.

themalaymailonline.com

Eight gunmen in army fatigue reportedly landed on the east side of the island at about 11.30pm and engaged in a shootout with police just before midnight.

astroawani.com

Police believed the gunmen could have rowed their boat into the area during low tide before climbing up the resort’s jetty from the rear of the building.

It is learnt that as soon as they entered, the gunmen started to shoot randomly towards the restaurant, reception office and jetty area before fleeing.

Another marine policeman, Sjn Jeffridin Harun, who was on a patrol boat nearby heard about 10 shots being fired. He alerted Esscom of the attack.

They fired at the direction of the restaurant and reception area before attacking the policemen at the security post. They abducted Zakiah and shot Rajah while fleeing.

The gunmen fled as other marine personnel near the area moved in to help.

Most resort guests and workers were in their rooms and sleeping when the incident occurred. People at other resorts along the island’s beach said that they heard gun shots but remained indoors until morning.

“We heard shooting but we did not come out. At 6.30am, I asked General Operations Force (GOF) personnel stationed on Mabul if anything had happened but they could not tell me anything,” said a resort worker. “I found out about the shooting from online news.”

He and Kons Zakiah Aliep, 26, were having a meal at the security post of the Mabul Water Bungalows Resort at about 11.10pm on Saturday when they were fired upon by at least eight heavily armed and masked gunmen dressed in military slacks and black shirts.

The marine policeman kidnapped by a group of armed men at a resort in Pulau Mabul, Semporna was among the first to serve in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone)after it was established following the Sulu intrusion in Lahad Datu in February last year. Zakria Aliep, 31, the elder brother of kidnapped victim Constable Zakiah Aleip, 26, said “my brother saw the service under Esscom as an opportunity to serve and return to his home state”.

Zakria said he received the news of his brother’s kidnapping from a friend at 4am yesterday. Zakria said his parents and family members were praying for the safe return of Zakiah, who became a father just three months ago.

Marine police Kpl Abdul Rajah Jamuan, 32, went down fighting in a shootout with heavily armed Filipino gunmen who abducted his colleague during a surprise attack on a security post in Pulau Mabul.

Rajah, who joined the police force 12 years ago, was involved in the operations against the Sulu armed intrusion in Kg Tanduo in Lahad Datu early last year. His body was found below the jetty of the resort while Zakiah was missing following a seven-minute gun battle.

Security forces within the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) immediately launched Ops Tutup to hunt down the gunmen by blocking off exits into the Tawi Tawi chain of islands in the southern Philippines.

A massive sea and air hunt was launched early Sunday.

The Star quoted Ahmad Zahid as saying that the attack was most probably an act of revenge by Sulu gunmen after Malaysian military commandos and police succeeded in penetrating their stronghold to save a kidnapped Chinese national recently.

"But we will not yield to such attacks and will fight back to ensure the security of the region,” Ahmad Zahid had said after breaking fast with members of the Kelantan police contingent last night.

Abdul Rashid said the attack on the policemen could have been in retaliation for the ongoing security clampdown against criminal activity in Sabah. The area is notorious for human trafficking and the smuggling of drugs and subsidised diesel oil.

channelnewsasia.com

Abdul Rashid said that the eight gunmen in Saturday's attack could have planned to carry out a kidnapping at one of the island's resorts but instead, attacked the two policemen. "If this is the cause, this means that the security forces sacrificed to prevent a kidnapping from taking place," he added.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has pledged to rescue Kons Zakia Aleip who is believed to have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen during an ambush at Mabul island in Semporna. The Prime Minister tweeted: “We will do our utmost to search and rescue Kons Zakia.”

He also extended his condolences to the family of Kpl Abdul Rajah Jamuan who was killed in the Saturday night incident.

The gunmen in Saturday’s attack in Mabul island could have possessed insider information, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. "They present a very serious challenge for our security forces as they have insider information. The community there does not recognise boundaries and it can be said they are united," he said.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the relevant authorities must leave no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of the case as the culprits were getting more daring by the day.

“I have been briefed. All motives are being investigated including the possibility of revenge over the heightened enforcement in Sabah waters,” he said on Sunday. Musa said that more needed to be done in terms of stepping up intelligence and coordinating with counterparts in the Philippines.