RM4m ransom for Indo hostage reduced to RM1.6m

KOTA KINABALU: Suspected Abu Sayyaf kidnappers have reduced the ransom for the release of an Indonesian who was kidnapped with a compatriot in waters off Semporna last September, a Philippine terrorism expert told Daily Express.

The kidnappers previously asked for RM4 million for both fishermen, Samsul Sangunim and Usman Yusof, but now demand 20 million Philippine pesos or RM1.6 million for Samsul after his compatriot escaped their abductors in Sulu, southern Philippines in December last year.

Chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research Professor Rommel Banlaoi said the kidnappers had threatened to behead Samsul if their lowered ransom demand is not met.

“On Dec 13 of last year, the captain of the Malaysian fishing boat [involved in the case] received a video footage of Samsul via the Internet from the ASG [Abu Sayyaf group] threatening to behead him if a ransom demand of P20M is not completely met.

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“This info is from a Philippine intel source,” Rommel said in a message.

A video of Samsul appeared earlier this year showing the bare-chested Indonesian crying for help in a freshly dug hole with his captives pointing assault rifles at him in a threatening manner.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah later confirmed it was Samsul in the video.

Samsul, 35, and Usman were abducted by gunmen from their fishing boat in the waters near Pulau Gaya off Semporna on Sept 11, 2018.

On Sept 18, the abductors called the wife of one of them, who was in Sulawesi, Indonesia and demanded RM4 million for their release without giving a deadline.

Usman managed to escape on Dec 5 last year and was rescued by the Philippine military before he was sent home to Indonesia.

On Dec 6, a day after Usman escaped, three more fishermen - a Malaysian and two Indonesians - were kidnapped from their fishing boat in the waters off Kinabatangan and taken to southern Philippines.

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They were identified as Heri Ardiansyah, 19, Jari Abdullah and Hariadin, 45,

No ransom demand has been reported for the release of the three, who were reported to be held together with Samsul.

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