A FORMER policeman, who was implicated in the kidnapping of Australian Warren Rodwell in Zamboanga four years ago, was arrested last week in Malaysia by the National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents.
Sr. Supt. Roberto Fajardo, AKG director, identified the suspect as former Sr. Police Officer 2 Jun Malban, who was arrested in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, in coordination with Malaysian authorities and the International Police Organization (Interpol).
The former policeman was captured by AKG personnel and NBI agents on May 15 in Malaysia through the strength of a warrant of arrest for kidnapping that was issued by Judge Josefino Bael of Branch 24 of the Regional Trial Court in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Fajardo said Malban was implicated in the kidnapping of Rodwell in Ipil, Zamboanga, in December 2011.
The retired Australian policeman, who was married to a Filipino from Zamboanga, was released on March 23, 2013, by his abductors after his family paid an undisclosed amount of ransom.
Rodwell had identified Malban as the negotiator and spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) during his captivity, with the former policeman using an alias as Michael Soo-Zue.
Fajardo said police investigation determined that Malban was a cousin of ASG leaders Khair Mundos and Borhan Mundos. Khair was the “emir” of the ASG in Basilan before he was arrested last year in Parañaque.
After the kidnapping of Rodwell, Malban went absent without leave and went into hiding until his arrest by the Malaysian Police for violation of immigration laws on April 28 in Lahad Datu, Sabah.
Fajardo said Malban’s arrest was the result of the close coordination between the National Police, the NBI, the Presidential Antiorganized Crime Commission and their Malaysian counterparts, as well as the Interpol.
He said manhunt operations are continuing against the others who were also involved in the kidnapping of Rodwell.
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Warren Richard Rodwell (born June 16, 1958 [62] Homebush NSW) [63] a former soldier [64] in the Australian Army, and university English teacher,[65] grew up in Tamworth NSW [66] He was shot through the right hand when seized [67] from his home at Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines on December 5, 2011 [68] by Abu Sayyaf (ASG) militants.[69] Rodwell later had to have a finger amputated.[70]
The ASG threatened to behead Rodwell [71] if the original ransom demand for $US2 million was not paid.[72] Both the Philippine and Australian governments had strict policies of refusing to pay ransoms.[73] Australia formed a multi-agency task force to assist the Philippine authorities, and liaise with Rodwell’s family.[74] A news blackout was imposed.[75] Filipino politicians helped negotiate the release.[76] After the payment of $AUD94,000 [77] for “board and lodging” expenses [78] by his siblings, Rodwell was released 472 days later on March 23, 2013.[79] The incumbent Australian prime minister praised the Philippines government for securing Rodwell’s release. Tribute was also made to Australian officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Australian Federal Police and Defence.[80] Rodwell subsequently returned to Australia.[81]
As part of the 2015 Australia Day Honours, Australian Army Lieutenant Colonel Paul Joseph Barta was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding devotion to duty as the Assistant Defence Attaché Manila during the Australian whole of government response to the Rodwell kidnap for ransom (and immediately following, the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan). At the 2015 Australian Federal Police Foundation Day award ceremony in Canberra, fourteen AFP members received the Commissioners’ Group Citation for Conspicuous Conduct for their work in support of the Philippine National Police and Australian Government efforts to release Australian man Warren Rodwell.[82]
By the end of his 15 months as a hostage in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Rodwell had lost about 30 kilograms in weight due to starvation,[83] His biography 472 Days Captive of the Abu Sayyaf – The Survival of Australian Warren Rodwell by independent researcher Dr Robert (Bob) East was published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing, United Kingdom (2015) ISBN 1-4438-7058-7 [84]
In January 2015, Mindanao Examiner newspaper reported the arrest of Barahama Ali [85] kidnap gang sub-leaders linked to the kidnapping of Warren Rodwell, who was seized by at least 5 gunmen (disguised as policemen), and eventually handed over or sold by the kidnappers to the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan province.[86]
In May 2015, ex-Philippine National Police (PNP) officer Jun A. Malban was arrested in Kota Kinabalu Malaysia for the crime of “Kidnapping for Ransom” after Rodwell identified him as the negotiator/spokesperson of the Abu Sayyaf Group during his captivity. Further PNP investigation revealed that Malban is the cousin of Abu Sayyaf leaders Khair Mundos and Borhan Mundos. The director of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) stated that Malban’s arrest resulted from close coordination by the PNP, National Bureau of Investigation (Philippines) and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission with the Malaysian counterparts and through Interpol. [87]
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