5 Abus charged for kidnap of German couple

MANILA, Philippines - Police have filed criminal charges against five Abu Sayyaf gunmen and several of their comrades for the kidnapping of German couple Stefan Okonek and Henrike Dielen.

Charges of kidnapping for ransom and illegal detention were filed against Abu Rami alias “Amir,” Mundi Sawadjaan alias “Mon,” Mudjappar Sawadjaan alias “Longhair,” Yusop Jalmaan alias “Yusofas Job” and Roger Saji alias “Abu Jannah.”

The bandit group snatched and held captive the German couple for seven months before they were freed after the reported payment of P250-million ransom last month.

The couple was snatched from their yacht while sailing near the coast of Rio Tuba in Palawan last April.

Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) chief Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo said the charges were filed before the Department of Justice on Oct. 29, or 12 days after the German couple were freed in Sulu.

“The PNP-AKG in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue in our legal offensive and manhunt operations against these lawless terrorist elements,” Fajardo said.

Fajardo said they filed the charges to be able to secure warrants of arrest, which will be used as basis to pursue the bandits.

“The PNP chief has ordered an intensified legal offensive and manhunt operations against the Abu Sayyaf and these kidnappers,” Fajardo said.

Fajardo said the charges were anchored on the statements of the German couple.

Fajardo said the couple positively identified Rami, who acted as negotiator and made calls to the victims’ family and demanded ransom before releasing them.

“We were able to get the identities of the kidnappers after AKG investigators debriefed the German couple after their release. The suspects were identified in the gallery,” he said.

Based on the account of the German couple, one of the Abu Sayyaf acted as negotiator while the rest were lookouts.

Fajardo said the police are considering putting up a reward for the arrest of the five suspects following reports that they have other pending warrants of arrest.

He pointed out that even if there were no ransom, the police would still pursue the bandits.

“Even without the reward, we will go after the bandits as long as we have their arrest warrants. We hope that the reward money will come out soon so it will be a ‘happy hunting’ for them,” he said.

Despite the claims of a video of the supposed ransom paid to the bandit group, Fajardo said they are still verifying the reports.

“They are bragging that they received ransom from the victims’ families. They are only implicating themselves further,” Fajardo said. – With Tess McClure, Evelyn Macairan