‘Malaysian’ ASG member not on Sabah’s wanted list

From The Star (May 18, 2022): ‘Malaysian’ ASG member not on Sabah’s wanted list (By STEPHANIE LEE)

KOTA KINABALU: The “Malaysian” man barred from entry to Manila for suspected terror links and later confirmed to be a member of the notorious Abu Sayyaf militant group (ASG) was not on Sabah’s latest list of wanted criminals, it was revealed.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Deputy Comm Hamzah Ahmad said the 53-year-old man, who is believed to be a Filipino, went by the name “Omar bin Harun” on his fake Malaysian passport.

Asked if Omar or his Filipino name Airola @ Satar was being monitored or under investigation for any case in Sabah, he said: “We will not reveal even if he was under probe.”

Recently, local media reported that Omar was named as one of the 20 people wanted for kidnap-for-ransom activities in Sabah.

On Friday, Philippines Southern Police District director Brig-Jen Jimili Macaraeg said the suspect had been placed under arrest after it was found that he is a Philippine citizen who used a Malaysian passport to hide his real identity.

He said a witness, who was a kidnap victim in August 2002, had positively identified Airola through a photograph as one of her Abu Sayyaf abductors.

They are conducting a thorough probe and intelligence gathering to determine the reason for Airola’s return to the country, considering he is a fugitive wanted by the law.

Regional intelligence sources also said he was on the terror list for his involvement with facilitating five Malaysians linked to Jemaah Islamiah in the failed 2017 Marawi siege.

There are 21 names on Esscom’s “wanted list” as revealed earlier this year. Among them are Ahadin Hussein, Ellam Sajirin @ Nasirin, Ismurah Jirah, Madjid Said @ Ammah Pattit and Mudzrimar @ Mundi Sawadjaan.

Three of them – Ahadin, Ellam and Ismurah - are suspected of involvement in a kidnapping case in Tambisan waters two years ago.

DCP Hamzah said Madjid Said was the most senior head of the Sulu-based Daulah Islamiyah and also served as commander of the ASG in Sulu and sub-leader as replacement for its slain leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.

Mudzrimar is a nephew of Hatib and sub-leader in Abu Sayyaf and has expertise in making bombs and planned the explosion at the Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo on Jan 27, 2020 and another incident there on Aug 24 that year.

Others still on the wanted list are Salip Mura; Al Munjir Yadah; Ben Tatoh Quirino; Basaron Arok; Mujimar Sawadjaan; Rasad; Marajan @ Manajan Asiri; Jul Aksan Abdurajan @ Halimaw; Jul @ Jun Hasan; Barak Undog @ Alvin; Hamsan Pakkan @ Black Cobra; Sabri Madrasul @ Salip Jul; Hadji Wahad @ Talip; Tampi @ Bunju; Haibin Mubin @ Apo Kuhambo; and Sangbas Parisko.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/05/18/malaysian-asg-member-not-on-sabahs-wanted-list