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
;DPA;HHR; ANPAu..r.. 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
;DPA; ANPAu..r.. 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