Borneo hostages may still be alive
Borneo hostages may still be alive
MALAYSIA: The remaining five hostages abducted last month from a
Borneo island resort in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah may
still be alive, a news report said on Sunday.
"As long as there are no bodies, we cannot make any
conclusions," Defense Minister Najib Razak was quoted as saying
by the New Sunday Times newspaper. "Our defense attache in Manila
will inform us of any development."
Based on reports received from Philippines authorities, there
are indications that the five remaining hostages, including two
Indonesians, may still be alive.
On Friday, the national news agency Bernama reported that the
sixth hostage, who "survived" a gunbattle last Monday between
Philippine police and gunmen had admitted that he was no longer
sure if his fellow abductees had been executed or not. The six
were taken hostage on Oct. 5.
The mystery surrounding the case increased on Saturday when it
was reported that the gunbattle earlier in the week may have been
concocted. -- DPA
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Malaysia-rape
Bogus doctor gets jail, whip for rape
JP/11/ASEAN1
Bogus Indonesian doctor jailed for rape
MALAYSIA: An Indonesian man was sentenced to 18 years in jail and
six lashes of the whip after he tricked a woman into having sex
with him as a remedy for her husband's impotence, a newspaper
reported on Saturday.
Usim Room, 36, had pleaded guilty to raping the 46-year old
housewife in August at the victim's home in central Pahang state,
the Malay-language Berita Harian daily reported.
Usim, who works at a local plantation, claimed to be a
witchdoctor and reportedly told the victim's husband that he
specialized in healing erectile dysfunction.
The bogus medicine man then duped the couple into allowing the
victim to have sex with him, claiming the man's impotence would
then be cured.
The victim later lodged a police report, and police arrested
and charged the Indonesian man, the report said. -- DPA
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Thailand-Phone-Explode
Mobile phone explodes, injures owner
JP/11/ASEANs
Mobile phone explodes, injures owner
THAILAND: A Bangkok businessman was slightly injured after his
mobile phone exploded, a news report said on Sunday.
Company executive Wichai Thongwiangchan, owner of the
exploding mobile phone, was slightly injured on his hand.
"I was using a remote control to open the front gate. As the
gate was closing behind me, I took my mobile phone from my belt,
thinking the battery had run down, Wichai was quoted as saying by
The Nation newspaper.
When Wichai tried to turn his phone on, it exploded into small
pieces, spreading fragments over a three-meter area.
The businessman said the main injury he suffered was to his
hand. -- DPA