Alleged body of beheaded Malaysian Abu Sayyaf hostage found

Bernard Then Ted Fen PHOTO/The Star Online/ANN

A severed body believed to be from the Malaysian kidnap victim beheaded last month was found by soldiers in Sulu on Monday night.

“The alleged decapitated body of Malaysian kidnap victim Bernard Then Ted Fen was recovered by joint elements of 9th Intelligence Service Unit and 501st Brigade,” said Joint Task Group Sulu Commander Brigadier General Alan Arrojado on Tuesday.

READ: Malaysian beheaded by Abu Sayyaf after kin failed to comply with ransom demand – military

The body was found at about 10 p.m. in sitio Lungon-Lungon in Barangay (village) Lanao Dakula in Parang, Sulu. It was immediately brought to KHTB Trauma Hospital in Jolo.

The body was later ferried to Zamboanga City through a Navy boat for DNA confirmation, Arrojado said.

Then was kidnapped, along with Thien Nyuk Fun, a restaurant owner, from Sandakan in Malaysia in May this year by the Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf Group.

Thien was earlier released after ransom was reportedly paid but Then’s family was not able to pay ransom.

READ: Severed head of Malaysian kidnap victim recovered – military source

Last Nov. 17, Then was beheaded by ASG members Alhabsy Misaya and Idang Susukan. His head was found in a sack in Barangay Walled City in Jolo. IDL