Sabah attack: Abducted cop calls wife to say he is alive

Photo of Zakiah Aleip. Policeman Zakiah Aleip who was kidnapped by Filipino gunmen in Sabah on Saturday, has telephoned his wife on Sunday night to say he was alive. -- PHOTO: THE STAR / ASIAN NEWS NETWORK
Photo of Zakiah Aleip. Policeman Zakiah Aleip who was kidnapped by Filipino gunmen in Sabah on Saturday, has telephoned his wife on Sunday night to say he was alive. -- PHOTO: THE STAR / ASIAN NEWS NETWORK

SEMPORNA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Policeman Zakiah Aleip who was kidnapped by Filipino gunmen in Sabah on Saturday, has telephoned his wife on Sunday night to say he was alive.

"He called his wife (Sharifah Erna Berson) last night saying that he is ok except that he is with some people," Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar told the Star.

Malaysian security forces are hunting for heavily armed gunmen in Sabah waters, after a policeman was killed and a second kidnapped at the diving resort off Borneo.

The shooting on Mabul island marks a fresh escalation of violence in the remote area, regarded as one of the world's top diving hot spots.

When asked where Zakiah could be held, Khalid said that they were not sure and that they were waiting for further calls.

He also said the police roughly knew the identity of some of those involved in the attack on Saturday night.

Zakiah, 26, was kidnapped after his colleague Abdul Rajah Jamuan, 32, was shot dead in the attack.

Eight Filipino masked gunmen were involved in the attack, and they fled to southern Philippines

Meanwhile, Abdul Rajah was buried with full honours on Monday morning.

His widow Salamah Ahmad and parents Jamuan Ajuan and Kamsiah Indaman were present along with Sabah Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Malek Harun.

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