Ekip
09 November 2015•Update: 10 November 2015
By Roy Ramos
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines
A Malaysian restaurant owner was released overnight by the Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines south almost seven months after she was kidnapped.
In a statement, police in the al Qaeda-linked group's stronghold island of Sulu said Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, had arrived safely in Sabah on Monday after payment of a 30 million peso ($640,000) ransom.
Thien was seized together with another Malaysian, Bernard Ghen Ted Fen, at Thien's restaurant in Sandakan in northeast Malaysia on May 14.
Police said that the release was facilitated by the vice governor of the island's head of security -- the son of senior Abu Sayyaf figure Amah Maas.
Maas's son accompanied two Malaysian officials -- one of them identified as Capt. Hassim -- as they handed over the ransom.
Police said the amount was the "remaining balance of the ransom the group had earlier demanded for Thien's freedom".
The statement did not mention if the other Malaysian national was covered by the payment or if he would also be released.
Last week, two ransom videos for three foreigners and a Filipina kidnapped over a month ago from a resort in the Philippines south were released.
Police, however, insist that they are maintaining a "no negotiation, no ransom” policy on kidnappings.
The Abu Sayyaf -- armed with mostly improvised explosive devices, mortars and automatic rifles -- has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortion in a self-determined fight for an independent Muslim province in the Philippines.
It is notorious for beheading victims after ransoms have failed to be paid for their release.
