Indonesia Confirms Sailors Abducted in Malaysia

Jakarta, Shawwal 07 1437/12 July 2016 (MINA) – Indonesia said Monday that three of its nationals who were working as sailors on a Malaysian fishing vessel have been taken hostage by an armed group, DPA reported.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the men were abducted Saturday in waters off Lahad Datu on the Malaysian part of Borneo, following reports from Malaysia over the weekend.

“Their vessel was ambushed by a speedboat. Five armed men then boarded the vessel and abducted the three while the other four crew were released,” Retno Marsudi said.

She added that Malaysian police have confirmed the men were taken to waters around Tawi Tawi in the southern Philippines.

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Retno Marsudi said the three men have licences to work in Malaysia and that the boat owner was in contact with the kidnappers through the abducted crew on Sunday.

“This new case is totally intolerable and there has to be a serious action taken by either the Malaysian or the Philippines governments.

The Indonesian government stands ready to cooperate in efforts to release them as soon as possible,” she said. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)