Police arrested a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group at a private wharf in Barangay Baliwasan, Zamboanga City Sunday night.

Police said a certain Jerome Mustakim was aboard a light watercraft reportedly on his way to Malaysia via Tawi-Tawi when the operating unit nabbed him past 8 p.m. The suspect is charged with 6 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention for the kidnapping of six members of the Jehovahs' Witnesses in Patikul, Sulu in 2002.

Mustakim, however, denied ever being involved with the Abu Sayyaf. He said his real name is Ben Akmad and that he has been living in Zamboanga for almost a year.

He admitted though that he was in Sulu in 2003 and left for Sandakan, Malaysia later.

"Nakikita ko lang yan sila," Akmad said, referring to the bandits.

This is the second time that law enforcers have said they arrested Mustakim. In July last year, Navy intelligence operatives arrested Maulujer Abbuh in Barangay San Roque and accused him to be "Jerome Mustakim."

Abbuh was immediately detained at Bicutan jail in Taguig City.

Police said Akmad is the real Mustakim.

"A witness of the Department of Justice confirmed to have seen him during the kidnapping and he is also said to have participated in the Sipadan kidnapping," Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo said.

De Ocampo said Akmad a.k.a Mustakim will be undergoing tactical interrogation.