KL man writing book on hostage crisis

KL man writing book on hostage crisis

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): A well-connected Malaysian businessman who
helped negotiate the release of hostages held by Muslim rebels in
the southern Philippines said on Wednesday he is writing a book
that will "expose the secrets and lies" surrounding the crisis.

Yusof Hamdan, 50, claimed he made secret tape recordings of
conversations which would implicate some Philippine government
officials of deliberately hampering negotiations and trying to
hog a percentage of ransom money for themselves.

Yusof said the Abu Sayyaf separatists, who reportedly received
US$15 million in ransom for 20 of 21 mostly foreign hostages
kidnapped last April from Malaysia's Sipadan diving resort, were
initially more interested in highlighting their rebellion than
receiving a ransom.

"This book will hit out at the real bad guys who manipulated
the situation for their own benefit," Yusof said, but he refused
to immediately name the Philippine officials whom he accused of
wrongdoing.

He said his tome, tentatively titled The Truth Behind Sipadan,
was 50 percent ready. He claimed he was in final negotiations
with an U.S.-based firm to publish the book.