Sandakan, Malaysia - A youth from Kinabatangan returned home here today after being held against his wish for nine months at Taganak island in the Philippines, 90 minutes by boat from here.
What started as a picnic trip turned into a nightmare for Sidek Sariman, 21, from Kampung Suan Lamba, Kinabatangan near here when he followed three men, whom he had just befriended, to the island.
The men prevented him from leaving the island unless he paid a ransom of RM2,000, but with the help of a businessman from Sandakan who knew Taganak mayor Omar Khan, Sidek was released unharmed.
On arrival from Taganak at 11 am here, Sidek was flown to Kota Kinabalu to give a statement at the Sabah Police Contingent headquarters.
Four hours later he was safely home.
Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Datuk Bung Moktar Radin said he came to know of Sidek's plight after the youth's mother sought his help.
"Sidek's mother came to see me every month for the last nine months to ask for help and she cried every time we met.
"I received a call yesterday about Sidek coming back to Sandakan today. What is important, Sidek is reunited with his family especially during Ramadan," said Bung Mokhtar.
Asked by reporters, Sidek, an oil palm plantation worker, said he regretted trusting the three men he had just befriended who took him for a picnic at Taganak island.
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