KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 — Police believe they have netted a leading member of a kidnap-for-ransom group that is responsible for a string of crossborder kidnappings in Sabah.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said they are “95 per cent certain” that they have detained Nikson Muktadir, a member of the Muktadir brothers gang, The Star Online reported today.

“We are still trying to confirm his real identity but we are 95 per cent certain that it’s him,” he was quoted as saying by the news portal.

Jalaluddin said the suspect was among eight adults and children on a boat off Pulau Bohayan, Semporna when he was caught at around 5.30pm on November 30.

Nikson is believed to have been involved in the assault on Mabul island resort last July 12. Marine police Corporal Abdul Rajah Jamuan, 32, was killed in the attack while his colleague, Constable Zakiah Aleip, 26, was taken away and remains missing.

Another key figure said to be linked to the Muktadir group, Apok Kahumbo @ Mubin Halil, 42, was shot dead on August 29.

The Abu Sayyaf intelligence operative was reportedly gunned down while leaving a court house in Tawi Tawi’s provincial capital of Bongao in the Philippines.

Jalaluddin, meanwhile, announced another two-week extension to the ongoing dusk-to-dawn curfew in waters off Sabah’s east coast lasting till December 24.

He said the curfew was still necessary as intelligence gathered by Malaysian security forces found that there gangs operating out of the Philippines’ restive south were still planning kidnappings.

“These groups are mobile and have been moving at ease between Sabah and southern Philippines. There is no doubt about the effectiveness about the curfew,” Jalaluddin was quoted as saying.

Six districts have been under a 7pm to 5am curfew since July 19 after a spate of cross border kidnappings targeting foreign holiday makers.

Currently, kidnappers are still waiting for ransom demands to be met for Zakiah and 32-year-old fish farmer Chan Sai Chuin,  kidnapped from Kunak in June.