KOTA KINABALU: Police are on the hunt for three Pelahu individuals over the murder of a fourth such individual, who was snatched from his boat in waters off Sabah’s east coast Semporna district.

       The three men were needed to help investigations into the death of their neighbour Tendang Sampulatik, 40, whose body was found along the coastline of Pulau Bohey Dulang on Saturday, said Semporna district police chief Supt Mohd Farhan Lee.

       He said Tendang was fishing with his wife, two-year-old son and mother-in-law on Thursday night when a boat carrying three people intentionally slammed into their boat. One of the suspects then beat up Tendang, who fell into the sea.

       “They pulled Tendang into their boat and sped away in the direction of Pulau Boheyan,” he said.

       There were what appeared to stab wounds on Tendang’s neck and head, he said, adding that they were awaiting a post-mortem report.

       Supt Farhan said the three suspects, aged between 40 and 50, were known to Tendang’s family.

       “We believe revenge was a motive,” he said, adding that police believed the trio had fled to southern Philippines.

       Pelahu or Bajau Laut, known as sea gypsies in these parts, are mostly undocumented people who live in boats. For generations, they have moved between Sabah’s east coast waters and southern Philippines.

       In recent years, some of them have settled on the islands in Sabah or southern Philippines.