Eight Filipinos who are members of the Abu Sayyaf group have been arrested in a special operation in Beaufort, said Malaysia’s Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali.
Hazani said preliminary investigations found those detained were not involved in kidnap for ransom in the state and were believed to be using Sabah as a hiding place. (Photo: AFP)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Eight Filipinos who aremembers of the Abu Sayyaf group have been arrested in a special operation in Beaufort,said Malaysia’s Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali.
They were nabbed with 29 other Philippine nationals in amangrove swamp area during the operation conducted by police and the EasternSabah Security Command (ESSCom) two days ago, he told a press conference on May10.
He said the ESSCom had checked with the Philippinesecurity forces, who confirmed that the eight men are members of the Abu Sayyafgroup who escaped to Sabah following an operation conducted by the securityforces in the southern part of the country.
Two of them are on the list of men wanted by thePhilippine government for involving in battles against its security forces andkidnapping of foreigners in the Philippines, he revealed.
Preliminary investigations found those detained were notinvolved in kidnap for ransom in Sabah and were believed to be using the stateas a hiding place.
He said the investigation would focus on establishing howand when the eight entered Malaysia and whether an Abu Sayyaf cell existed inSabah or if they had received help from the Daesh terrorist group, also knownas IS./.
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Hazani said preliminary investigations found those detained were not involved in kidnap for ransom in the state and were believed to be using Sabah as a hiding place. (Photo: AFP) 
