Sandakan kidnap victim Then feared dead, beheaded by militants

KOTA KINABALU: Engineer Bernard Then who was abducted by South Philippines gunmen in May is feared dead after his captors are believed to have shot and killed him today.
Unconfirmed reports today claimed that 39-year-old Then was also beheaded by militants linked to the Abu Sayyaf group.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said last night that police are yet to confirm Then's fate but attempts to contact its counterpart in South Philippines are being made to verify the claim.
"Philippines security forces are reported to have engaged in a gun battle with the kidnappers earlier in the evening but without confirmation from our counterpart we do not know Then's fate. Let's pray he is safe," he said.
It is learnt that a Philippines armed forces were on a fierce offensive against militant groups at its stronghold, pushing them out of their forest hideouts at islands off the southern part of the country.
However, the Singapore New Straits Times' Philippines correspondent quoted Brigadier-General Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu as Then, was beheaded at around 4pm at a remote Abu Sayyaf stronghold in Jolo island, in the Sulu province, some 1,400km south of the capital Manila.
He said the militants executed their plan of killing Then after failed negotiations with his family in securing their demands.
"Accordingly, the body was immediately buried in the vicinity where they beheaded the victim," he was quoted saying in the daily's news website.
He said efforts were now being undertaken to locate Then's remains.
News of Then's fate comes just three days after seafood restaurant co-owner Thien Nyuk Fun, 50 who was abducted along with Then on May 14 from the Ocean King Seafood Restaurant located along the shores of Sandakan was freed by the gunman.
Days after their abduction, the militants made a ransom demand of over RM10 million for the safe release of the victims.
The duo had also made a plea through their families about a month ago urging the Malaysian government to expedite their release as their captors were losing their patience and had threatened them with death if the ransom was not paid up.
After months of negotiating with the militants with the help of the Philippines authorities, Thein was released on Sunday. Negotiators also held high hopes following indications that Then could realise his freedom in the weeks ahead.
The east coast of Sabah is a target of South Philippines militant groups who have over the past decade carried out kidnappings of Malaysians and foreign tourists to raise funds for the acquisition of firearms and sustaining its terrorism activities.