KOTA KINABALU – A suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorist has been rearrested by the Philippines authorities in Sulu yesterday after escaping jail 13 years ago in 2009.
Mahari Aradji, 67, was sentenced to a Sulu provincial jail after being found guilty for kidnapping 21 people in Sipadan in 2000, but escaped in January 2009.
He was arrested yesterday around 4am in Sitio Tugamot, Barangay Katian in Indanan, Sulu, reported the Philippine News Agency.
Aradji was placed under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for proper disposition.
According to Area Police Command-Western Mindanao operations chief, Richard Verceles, Aradji has four standing arrest warrants for double murder, murder with arson, murder, and illegal firearm possession of firearms.
Aradji was a follower of the late Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang, also known as Commander Robot, and was involved in kidnappings of foreigners and other terrorist activities.
On April 23, 2000, Andang’s group, consisting of six men armed with assault rifles and several rocket-propelled grenades, kidnapped 21 people from Sipadan and brought the hostages to the Sulu interior.
The hostages, including a Malaysian police officer, three Germans, two French, two South Africans, two Finns, and a Lebanese citizen, were herded onto the boats with nine Malaysian and two Filipino resort workers.
Andang was captured on December 8, 2003, and was shot dead with other Abu Sayyaf leaders in a prison riot on March 8, 2005, at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City. – The Vibes, September 15, 2022
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