KUALA LUMPUR — A Philippines’ court has sentenced 17 members of the Abyu Sayyaf militant group to life imprisonment for kidnapping 21 people from Sipadan, Malaysia and holding them hostage.
The Taguig City Regional Trial Court in its judgement on October 16, found all 17 accused guilty on 21 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with random.
Philippines’ Department of Justice announced the ruling today, The Manila Times reported, with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stating that the conviction showed the department’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law.
On April 23, 2000, Abu Sayyaf militants abducted the 21 individuals of different nationalities at gunpoint from a dive resort on Sipadan Island.
Those taken were 10 foreign tourists from Europe and the Middle East, nine Malaysians, and two Filipinos who worked at the resort.
The victims were taken by boat to Sulu and help captive there.
All were released six months later, with Philippine media reporting that ransom payments were made to Abu Sayyaf. However, this has never been confirmed by the Malaysian authorities. – October 21, 2024