The five have since been released, and Putrajaya has sent Jakarta a protest note condemning the alleged incursion and detention of its citizens by Indonesian security forces.

The victims, aged between 15 and 64, were harvesting wood at the Wong Rangkai forest near Kampung Danau Melikin, just a few hundred metres from the Serian-Kalimantan border, around noon on Dec 11.

The group, which were held at gunpoint, were allegedly forced into a Toyota Hilux and were taken across the Kalimantan border to the Indonesian command post in Sg Enteli.

“Throughout the journey to the command post, the soldiers allegedly roughed up the five Sarawakians and threatened to shoot them if they resisted,” the daily wrote.

The Sarawakians, the NST reported, were forced to admit that they had trespassed into the Indonesian jungle and stole wood.

The Indonesian soldiers, according to the daily, released two of the hostages, who are siblings, about 4pm and were told to inform the families of the hostages to hand over RM10,000 as well as two new chainsaws that same night.

The brothers were allegedly warned against approaching the Malaysian authorities and were told that the rest of the hostages would be executed if they did not heed the warning.

However, the duo approached the Malaysian army detachment at the Balai Ringin Military Camp which negotiated the release of the three men the next day.