AUTHORITIES in Lahad Datu have identified the suspected kidnapper who was shot dead early this morning as 31-year-old Abu Paliyak, also known as Komander Paliyak @ Yusof, an informant for the Abu Sayaf militant group.

Sabah Police Commissioner Ramli Din said the Filipino Abu Paliyak “was believed to have been involved in several robberies and kidnapping in waters off Kunak and Lahad Datu in 2014”.

“With the suspect dead, police believe they have solved several robberies and kidnappings in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone that occurred between 2014 and 2015,” he said at the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) headquarters in Lahad Datu today.

Ramli said Paliyak was believed to be studying the movements of Malaysian security personnel and providing the information to kidnap-for-ransom groups, such as the Remy group, in Southern Philippines, when an Esscom special force team and Lahad Datu marine police spotted his boat near Pulau Kalungan about 3am this morning.

“When our boat approached him and our personnel introduced themselves, the boat suddenly sped off. The suspect also reportedly fired a shot towards the policemen, who then returned fire several times at the suspect’s boat,” said Ramli.

“A few minutes later, police approached the suspect’s boat and found Abu lying in the boat with a gunshot mark on the body.” 

A pump gun was also found in the boat.

“The suspect’s body also had nine old scars, believed to be from gunshots, and a healed wound from an explosion on the right thigh, stomach and right arm.

“The suspect also did not have a middle finger on the left hand,” said Ramli, adding that the authorities would continue efforts to curb kidnap-for-ransom groups.  – December 4, 2017.