Pom Pom island kidnap victim rescued, says IGP
Taiwanese tourist Chang An Wei, who was abducted from Pom Pom island resort on November 15, has been successfully rescued by Philippine security forces.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar tweeted the good news, saying the 56-year-old Chang was rescued in Sulu and has been admitted to the Merin Hospital in the province.
In his 5.15pm tweet, Khalid said Chang will be flown to the Zamboanga Hospital on Saturday (December 21) for a medical check-up.
In the November 15 incident, Taiwanese tourist Hsu Li Min was shot dead by suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists who attacked a resort on Pom Pom island off Semporna.
The group of heavily armed men arrived at the Pom Pom island resort around 1am and stormed into the restaurant.
At that time, the only people in the restaurant were 57-year-old Hsu and his wife, Chang.
Hsu was shot twice in the chest and ribs while Chang was abducted by the gunmen.
The assailants then fled in a pump boat towards southern Philippines with Chang.
The Taiwanese couple had arrived in Malaysia on November 12 and were scheduled to leave on November 20.
Following the attack, Taiwanese media descended on Malaysia and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) came under heavy criticism.
Chang's older brother, Richard Chang, came to Malaysia following the incident before going to the Philippines to secure her release.
He had expressed optimism that Chang's release could be secured speedily and without any untoward incidents. – December 20, 2013.
