SANDAKAN – A fishing company here had to fork out RM65,000 to secure the release of one of its boats and crew, after they were detained out at sea by a group claiming to be police from neighbouring Philippines.
Beluran district police chief Kasim Muda said the fishing boat with the registration number SN889 was intercepted by an unknown vessel while it was out at sea near Pulau Jambongan on April 24.
The fishing boat, manned by three Indonesian staff, had attempted to move away from the vessel but was stopped by a suspect who pointed a pistol at them, he said.
“After they stopped, eight men (suspects) boarded SN889; three men with pistols and two other men with rifles resembling M4 or M16. The suspects identified themselves as Philippine police personnel. One had a bulletproof vest with the words ‘Pulis’,” Kasim said in a statement.
Kasim said the boat was still in Malaysian waters when it was intercepted and was brought over to Philippines waters after the suspects disabled the GPS and radio.
“They then contacted the owner of the vessel using one of the crew’s phones and demanded RM65,000, or the crew will face legal action for illegally entering Philippines waters,” he said.
The company sent out a crew to hand over the ransom money to the suspects around 11.30pm on April 26, while in Philippines waters. The boat and crew were later released with their phones and passports returned to them, Kasim said.
Police are investigating the case under Section 384 of the Penal Code for extortion, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years with a possible fine or whipping upon conviction. – The Vibes, April 28, 2022
