KOTA KINABALU: The wife of just released marine police constable Zakiah Aleip is anxious to see her husband again after almost eight months’ of worrying about him.

Sharifah Erna Berson, 26, who was putting her child to sleep when police called to inform her of her husband’s release by his kidnappers from the southern Philippines, said that it was a wonderful surprise.

“Syukur Alhamdullilah. I did not know about his release, it was only at about 10am that I found out although I had already received text messages from reporters asking me about it.

“At first I wasn’t sure but after police called to confirm, I felt so relieved. It is a wonderful surprise for my family, and the best gift my son, Hisyam, can get as he just celebrated his first birthday on March 5,” she said when contacted on Saturday morning.

Kons Zakiah was abducted after gunmen attacked a marine police unit Pulau Mabul in Semporna at around 11.10pm on July 12 last year.

His colleague Kpl Ab Rajah Jamuan, 32, was killed in the attack.

Sharifah is still waiting for instructions from the police as to whether she should stay at home and wait for her husband’s return or to go to the airport to meet him.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said Konst Zakiah was released by his kidnappers at about 2.30pm on Friday, and had been sent to Sulu at about 11pm the same day.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said Kons Zakiah was released by his kidnappers at about 2.30pm on Friday, and was sent to Sulu at about 11pm on the same day.

“Our team of police managed to get him out of Indanan in Sulu and he arrived in Sandakan at about 7.30am on Saturday morning,” Jalaluddin said.-thestar