By Olivia Miwil - December 8, 2021 @ 10:50am
LAHAD DATU: Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) has maintained zero kidnappings along the east coast of Sabah for the last two years.
Its outgoing commander Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman attributed the success to intelligence sharing among Esscom and security forces from Indonesia and the Philippines.
"The latest kidnapping-for-ransom incident in this area was on Jan 15, 2020.
"Following the swift action from the intelligence exchange with the Joint Task Force Sulu and Western Mindanao Command , three of the criminals were shot dead at Sulare Island off Sulu, which was three days after the incident," he said in a press statement in conjunction with his retirement today.
Ahmad added that the tripartite cooperation also led to the killing of the Mamay Aburi group leader at Zamboanga Sibugay six months later.
His other successes, during his two-year tenure as commander, included neutralising nine main targets via joint operations with neighbouring countries to curb kidnapping and smuggling activities.
He said two main Abu Sayyaf Group clans - HATIB Munap Binda in Beaufort and Pulau Timbang in Sandakan as well as Jemaah Group under Ustaz Mamy Aburi were also crippled.
"I am thankful to all Esscom staff, security enforcement agencies such as the police, army, maritime enforcement and other departments such as the Customs and Immigration for being committed in fulfilling the commitment and mission of Esscom and the country.
"Such a commitment has to be continued in fighting cross-border crimes and breaking the chain of Covid-19 infection."
The Selangor-born Ahmad started his 39-year career in 1982 as a trainee inspector in Kuala Lumpur before being transferred to Sabah in 1985 where he held various positions.
He was an assistant commissioner when he joined Esscom in 2014 before being promoted as the commander with the rank of deputy commissioner on Sept 4, 2020
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