KOTA KINABALU: Three phone calls were made to the kidnapped victims’ family since the abduction took place in Sandakan last week, said Sabah police commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman.
Apart from ransom demand, he said the group had asked for money to buy medicine and food for the victims.
“The medicine is for Thien Nyuk Fun who is suffering from diabetes. Both victims are safe and they are being moved from one island to another,” he told reporters.
On May 14, Thien and her Sarawakian customer Bernard Thed Ten Fen were captured by Abu Sayyaf gunmen who stormed seaside Ocean King Seafood located along Jalan Pasir Putih in Sandakan.
It was reported that the Muktadil brothers identified as Mindas and Kadafy were responsible for the abduction.
On Wednesday, Mindas who led the recent kidnap group was killed in a shootout with the Philippines security forces in Jolo province.
“He is related to Nikson and Badong. They are brothers,” he said, adding Mindas death does not make a difference as there are still other kidnap groups.
It was reported that Mindas was responsible for the abduction of Taiwanese tourist at Pom Pom Island off Semporna in 2013 and the kidnapping of Chinese tourist and Filipino worker at Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort off Semporna in June last year.
While Nikson and Badong were sought by police for their involvement in several kidnapping cases in Sabah’s east coast, including the abduction of marine personnel Constable Zakiah Aleip on Pulau Mabul in July last year.