THREE Indonesian fishermen were kidnapped from waters off Tambisan, near Kinabatangan, at midday yesterday, Sabah police commissioner Omar Mammah confirmed today.

Omar said the men – Maharudi Lunani, 48, Muhammad Farhan, 27, and Samiun Maneu, 27 – are believed to have been taken to Tawi-Tawi in the southern Philippines by their captors, adding there have been no ransom demand made yet by the kidnappers.

“The incident happened near Gem Reef in Tambisan in the Kinabatangan district. They were seven kidnappers, riding in two pump boats, equipped with three engines.

“They were wearing green-coloured military pattern trousers and black masks, and armed with an AK47, two M-16s with M203 grenade launchers and a pistol.

“They also spoke Malay to the victims, and in Suluk to each other,” he told reporters at Sabah Police headquarters in Kapayan, today.

Omar said the fishermen arrived at the location on September 22, after travelling for two days from the Sandakan jetty in two boats.

He said the suspects robbed one boat, taking away their mobile phones, passports and some cash, after gathering all four-crew on the bow.

“They then went to the second boat about 300m away and were seen taking it to Philippine waters,” he said.

The location of the incident was 10.6nm from Pulau Tambisan, and about 3nm from the Philippine border, said Omar.

Meanwhile, he said the police will review the use of pump boats and engage with the local communities in the Sabah government plan to lift the ban on the use of pump boat in Malaysian waters. – September 24, 2019.