So, who is telling the truth?
A couple of days after Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the RM12mil ransom – which was raised to free four Sarawakians captured by Abu Sayyaf militants – was reportedly chanelled to several Filipino organisations, the police, however, are singing a different tune.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar told The Star Online that the Special Branch did not receive the RM12mil raised by the families.
“I must reiterate again that the government nor the police had paid any money to the kidnappers. If there were matters involving money or payment, it was something that was done by the families themselves,” IGP Khalid was quoted as saying.
IGP Khalid also added that he did not know where the money was chanelled to.
“I don’t know. We have nothing to do with the money and where or to whom it was channelled.
“I think the families know where the money went and who received it,” he said, adding that there were ‘third parties’ involved with the families.
“Everyone will use the name of the police and Special Branch but like I said, we don’t cooperate with anyone in paying ransom to the kidnappers,” he was further quoted by The Star Online as saying.
On June 7, the four sailors – Wong Teck Kang, 31, Wong Hung Sing, 34, Wong Teck Chii, 29, and Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21 – were freed by the militants.
