'Kidnapped' officers suspects in tanker pirate attack

The master, chief officer and chief engineer, all Indonesians, were found missing when the pirates fled after siphoning off 2,500 tonnes of the vessel's cargo of 4,344 tonnes of diesel and were thought to have been kidnapped.

After it was found that the passports, personal belongings and clothing of the master, Farizal, chief engineer Mo­­hamad Alfan and chief officer Ariyandri Alhafsyah were also missing from their cabins, Malaysian Police now suspect foul play. This was reinforced by the fact that no ransom demand has been made for the missing crew so far.

Malaysian Federal Marine Police deputy commander Asst Comm Abdul Rahim Abdullah said it was very suspicious that three of the ship’s key officers had gone missing with the eight pirates. Based on current prices the value of the stolen cargo is roughly $2.25m.