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| Southeast Asia |
| Abu Sayyaf releases hostage after recieving ransom |
| 2015-11-12 |
| [Gulf Today] Abu Sayyaf militants have released a 50-year-old Malaysian woman they held hostage for six months while police reported they prevented an attempt to abduct an Australian and his family in Agusan del Sur province. The woman was identified as Thien Nyuk Fun, a restaurant manager, who was abducted nearly six months ago with a Malaysian man from Sandakan on the Malaysian state of Sabah. Sources said the militants released Thien in a remote village in the town of Indanan, Sulu late on Sunday night after her family reportedly paid the remaining $70,000 "balance" of the ransom demand. The Sulu provincial police said Thien's release was facilitated by a security escort for Sulu Vice Governor Abdusakur Tan who is the son of Abu Sayyaf leader Amah Maas. Reportedly, on instructions of Tan, Maas' son accompanied two Malaysians including a captain who handed over the ransom in cash to the kidnappers. Sabah officials confirmed that Thien, the mother of two children, had reunited with her family after she arrived in Sandakan after an eight-hour speedboat ride from Sulu. A relative said, "She's tired but healthy and is now looking forward to a quiet life to recover from her worst nightmare under the hands of the Abu Sayyaf who kept her on the run in the jungle terrains of Sulu." The Abu Sayyaf have also demanded a $60 million ransom ($20 million each) for three foreigners — two Canadians and a Norwegian — and their Filipina companion kidnapped from a posh island resort on September 21. Meanwhile, Police chief Joebert Agpaoa reported the arrest of seven suspected Abu Sayyaf militants who had planned to kidnap an Australian national and his family in the town of San Luis, Agusan del Sur on Monday. Agpaoa said a combined team of policemen and soldiers nabbed the suspects after recieving reliable information about the abduction plan. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 But everyone knew her as Nancy. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2015-11-12 15:57 |
| #1 The woman was identified as Thien Nyuk Fun that was her "performing name" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2015-11-12 14:50 |