KOTA KINABALU: Gunmen have demanded ransom to secure the release of kidnap victims, confirmed Sabah police commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman.
He said police had met with the families of Thien Nyuk Fun and Bernard Then Ted Fen who verified it.
"It involves huge amount. So far the victims are not harmed and they are safe," he said in a statement, adding the gunmen were hiding on an island in the southern Philippines.
Jalaluddin said family members had yet to lodge a police although they had been advised to do so.
On Thursday night, armed men kidnapped Thien and Then from the Ocean King Seafood Restaurant located along Jalan Pasir Putih near here.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said the Muktadil brothers, led by Badung and Nikson, may be involved in the latest strike.
They were also involved in most of the kidnappings in the east coast of Sabah between November 2013 and July last year.
The recent kidnapping was the first after a curfew was imposed in the waters off six districts under the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) in July last year.
The 19th phase of curfew hour ended today but has been extended until June 2.