KOTA KINABALU: Five men armed with rifles and parang abducted two men, including a seaweed farm owner in Pulau Sebangkat, off Semporna, around 1am on Sunday.The abduction of the two men aged between 25 and 40, was believed to have resulted from a dispute between the seaweed farm owner and some of his workers over unpaid wages.

The suspects are believed to be nationals from a neighbouring country.

Earlier on, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim had informed Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who is the State Security Council chairman, of the abduction.

“I was informed of the incident by State Commissioner of Police (Noor Rashid) at 11am this morning (yesterday) and he assured me that police are carrying out investigation into the authenticity of the case.

“They are verifying whether there is any truth to the (abduction) claims,” Musa said at the international airport here before leaving for Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

However, initially Noor Rashid refused to comment on the incident when met at his office at the Kepayan Police Headquarters yesterday afternoon.

Later he confirmed the incident as an abduction attempt which occurred in Pulau Sebangkat, about 10 nautical miles from Semporna.

Noor Rashid said the five men in two pump boats had approached the area where the abduction took place and climbed onto a platform where the workers were said to be resting.

“Initial report revealed that two men armed with rifles and another man armed with a parang demanded money but after failing to get what they wanted, they ordered the two local men into their boat,” he said, adding the other workers of the seaweed farm watched in horror.

Based on police information, Noor Rashid said the suspects had initially planned robbery as it was pay day for the 34 workers.

“Police were informed of the incident around 1.30am and a team was immediately deployed to the scene but failed to reach the area as it was low tide at the time.

“The suspects managed to flee with ease as they were using pump boat.

“We also believe that the suspects have not gone far and are still in the Sabah waters as police have intensified patrolling all entry and exit points,” he said.

Meanwhile, Noor Rashid stressed that the abduction was not an act of any militant group from Southern Philippines, as police believe locals might be involved and collabora-ting with the suspects.

“This is not an act of the Abu-Sayaf as the main purpose of the robbery was to get quick money by robbing. Locals may have also played a role in the case as one really needs local knowledge to reach the area.

“Police will continue to investigate into the incident and we believe that both the suspects and victims will be traced soon,” he said.

The case will be investigated under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code for committing gang-robbery with dangerous weapons, he said.