The master, chief officer and chief engineer of the 4,999-dwt Naniwa Maru 1 (built 1992) were atfirst thought to have been kidnapped in the incident.
However, Malaysian police suspect foul play afterthe personal belongings of the three men including clothes and passports werealso missing.
Malaysian authoritiessay the theory is given extra credence by the fact that no ransom demand hasbeen made for the missing crew.
TheJapanese-owned
