COPS KNOW WHERE THE ABDUCTED DUO ARE

KOTA KINABALU: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Haji Ismail Omar said he has instructed Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib to strengthen cooperation with their counterparts in neighbouring countries to facilitate smooth action on any cross-border crime activity like kidnapping.

"I assure Sabahans that we take every crime very seriously and do our best to prevent, including reviewing existing security arrangements along the east coast of Sabah," he said.

He was asked on the kidnapping of two men from their family-owned oil palm estate in Kg Manakayang, about 50km from Lahad Datu town, on Nov. 14.

On whether there are security loopholes, Ismail said he would not want to say there are but they would always study the modus operandi involved.

On this case, Hamza who was also present said police have identified the location outside Sabah where the kidnapped duo were believed to be at and are now working with their counterparts on follow-up actions.

The 33-year-old estate manager and his assistant manager, 25, both members of the Tong family who are from West Malaysia and who own the 1,000-acre estate, were abducted by a group of five men, one said to be wearing a face mask, armed with at least one long firearm.

The victims were working inside the family swiftlet house when the men stormed in and dragged them out.

Then the group led the two victims on foot to a boat at a beach about two kilometres from the scene and after getting into it immediately sped off towards the open sea.

On illegal gambling activities in Sabah, Ismail said he has actually instructed Hamza to submit a report on this which showed there have been good results on the action against illegal gambling activities in the State.

"There have been good results achieved by Sabah police on this. There were reports on arrests, prosecutions and so on. And I told Hamza to keep up with the good work until the problem is resolved," he said.