Chinese tourist abducted in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR - The Chinese tourist abducted in April in Semporna of Sabah state, Malaysia, was freed on Friday, according to the Chinese Consulate in Malaysia.

An official from the Chinese Consulate in Malaysia told Xinhua that the Malaysian police informed them that the victim was freed at about 5:00 pm local time and had arrived in Sabah.

He said when the victim would return to China was being discussed by related sides.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was on his official visit to China, had informed the Chinese side of the release and said the victim would be escorted back to China soon.

Najib said on his twitter account that there was no ransom paid to secure the two victims' release. The success was achieved due to the cooperation of the security forces of Malaysia and Philippines.

He said they were "taking steps to facilitate the return of the Chinese national to her home as soon as possible."

According to Malaysian newspaper, The Star, a security official has said that with the help of their Philippines counterparts, two Malaysian officers managed to rescue the Chinese national as well as the Filipina who was abducted alongside from a remote mountainous location on the southern Philippine island of Jolo.

The two women, abducted by a group of gunmen from a Semporna resort in Sabah on April 2, were freed after negotiations involving Malaysian security officers, the newspaper reported.

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