Malaysian recounts escape from Abu Sayyaf

A Malaysian plantation manager held hostage by alleged Abu Sayyaf members said he escaped before dawn under the cover of a tropical downpour after almost 9 months in abysmal conditions, reports said Sunday, August 11. Tung Wei Jie, 26, who was seized in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island last November together with his cousin, was found in Jolo, Sulu early this week and returned to Malaysia on Saturday, August 10. Tung told local media in his uncle’s home in Port Dickson on the Straits of Malacca that he escaped in heavy rain from a bamboo hut in the jungle when his abductors, about 20 gunmen, went for pre-dawn prayers. Tung and 3 other workers were abducted from their palm oil plantation in Sabah’s Lahad Datu district in November. Two workers were later released. While in captivity, they were only fed plain rice and some fried fish and not allowed to bathe for 3 months. There was no running water or electricity, Tung added.


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