Police apply to extradite Bernard Then's killers from Philippines

From the New Straits Times (Dec 11): Police apply to extradite Bernard Then's killers from Philippines

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have submitted an application to the Philippine authorities to extradite two members of the Sulu Island-based Abu Sayyaf in connection with the kidnapping-cum-murder of Malaysian engineer Bernard Then.

The suspects were detained last Friday in the island.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the application to extradite the two men was made through the Attorney-General's Chambers and the Foreign Ministry.

"We are waiting for the next process. We have sufficient evidence to charge them in our court," he told a press conference after attending a fire drill at the Federal Police Headquarters in Bukit Aman here today.

On whether the Malaysian police had received Then's DNA test results, Khalid said they were still waiting.

The two suspects were believed to be linked to the murder of Then, 39, on Nov 17.

International media had reported that Then, from Sarawak, was beheaded in a secluded location, believed to be a stronghold of Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines.

The engineer was kidnapped by a group of armed men at a seafood restaurant in Sandakan, Sabah, last May 15, together with restaurant manager, Thein Nyuk Fun, 50.

However, Thien was released by the kidnappers last Nov 8.

In another development, Khalid said police had asked United States-based hotelier Charles Morais - brother of murdered senior deputy public prosecutor Anthony Kevin Morais - to hand over a pen-drive which he claimed contained information pertaining to his brother's killing.

"I have always told him (Charles), (that) he just needed to send the pen-drive (to us) for further investigations, if he refused to meet us.

"Don't blame the police if we are unable to take any action," he said.

The body of Anthony Kevin, 55, was found in a drum filled with concrete near Persiaran Subang Mewah in Subang Jaya near here on Sept 16, after he was reported missing on Sept 4.

He was last seen leaving his condominium in Menara Duta here for work at the Attorney-General's Office in Putrajaya.

http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/12/116852/police-apply-extradite-bernard-thens-killers-philippines