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Report: Kidnappers' bickering led to hostage's death
Published:  Nov 18, 2015 7:49 PM
Updated: Nov 19, 2015 12:37 AM

Bernard Then, the Malaysian hostage who was beheaded by his Abu Sayyaf captors yesterday, may have had a different fate had it not been for his kidnappers who bickered about how to split the ransom money.

According to Sin Chew Daily which quoted sources, the initial agreement was for Then and another hostage Thien Nyk Fun to be released together after their ransom was paid.

However, the kidnappers could not agree on how to split the ransom money they received and decided to hold back one hostage.

Therefore, only Thien, who was a restaurant manager, was released on Nov 8.

Both Then and Thien were kidnapped from the Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Sandakan by Abu Sayyaf militants who launched a daring incursion into Sabah to snatch the hostages back to southern Philippines.

The front-page report on Sin Chew Daily 's evening edition today said the ransom was raised after Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman personally sought the help of local tycoons from Sandakan and Tawau.

The report said one of the fundraisers acted as intermediary for the money to be handed over to the militants.

It added that Thien was released within a week after the fundraising effort by the tycoons.

However, the kidnappers who held on to Then were later faced with an assault by the Philippine military.

They reportedly beheaded Then as he suffered from a leg injury while in captivity and was slowing them down in escaping the soldiers.

DNA tests

Then's beheading was confirmed by the Joint Task Group Sulu commander Brigadier-General Alan Arrojado yesterday.

A severed head in a sack was also discovered in Jolo by a sweeper earlier today, which was tagged with Then's name.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said Then's fate cannot yet be ascertained pending final confirmation from the authorities in the Philippines.

The Philippine authorities say they will be performing a DNA test on the severed head.

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