Alleged Singaporean fugitive, kidnapped by own smuggler in JB, rescued by Malaysian police
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Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director M. Kumar said initial investigations showed that one of the kidnappers had assisted the Singaporean man who had entered Malaysia illegally.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
- An alleged Singaporean fugitive hiding in Malaysia was kidnapped by his own smuggler and rescued by Malaysian police in Johor Bahru.
- Six local suspects with past drug records were arrested; ransom money and valuables worth $82,620 were recovered during police raids.
- The victim evaded parole for a drug offence; police continue investigating his illegal entry and have remanded him under the Immigration Act.
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JOHOR BAHRU – An alleged Singaporean fugitive, who had been hiding in Malaysia for three months, has been rescued by Malaysian police after he was kidnapped there.
The man, 32, was rescued on Aug 11 alongside a 33-year-old Singaporean woman, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a media reply on Aug 13.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director M. Kumar said on Aug 12 the woman is the man’s girlfriend and they were rescued in Johor Bahru.
“Police have since arrested six local suspects, including a woman, and recovered an array of items, including ransom money and items totalling RM264,440 (S$82,800),” he said during a press conference.
Kumar said initial investigations showed that one of the kidnappers had assisted the Singaporean man who had entered the country illegally in May.
The man’s girlfriend is believed to have entered the country legally.
He added that the local suspects had turned on both the victims several days ago, before the man’s mother lodged a report about getting a ransom call on Aug 10.
In its media reply, the SPF said the families of both Singaporeans alerted the Singapore police after becoming concerned about their safety. SPF then contacted their Malaysian counterparts for assistance.
Kumar said: “The kidnappers are believed to have kept the two Singaporeans for a few days at an undisclosed location before they called the man’s mother demanding S$80,000.
“They also injured the man on both his thighs to show the family that they were serious about the kidnapping,” Kumar said, adding that some of the money was also deposited into the victim’s account.
Kumar added a police task force managed to track down and rescue the victims at a supermarket on Aug 11 at about 6pm.
“A suspect in his 40s was also nabbed during the handover of ransom monies,” he said, adding that police arrested five others in a series of raids in Johor Bahru.
“At least five of those arrested have criminal records for drugs,” he said.
Kumar added that four of the suspects tested positive for drugs, along with the two victims.
The man is wanted by Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau for a suspected drug offence, SPF said.
Items seized included 10 mobile phones, S$12,000 in cash, RM41,000 in cash, a Rolex watch, a chain and a car.
The police are also investigating how the victim managed to enter Malaysia illegally without documents.
“He has been remanded for 14 days under the Immigration Act,” Kumar said, noting that this was the second case of police being able to free a Singaporean kidnapping victim within a week, thanks to their close cooperation with the Singapore Police Force.
The SPF would like to express its appreciation to Royal Malaysia Police for their swift assistance and close collaboration in securing the safe rescue of both individuals,” the Singapore police said.
In the earlier case, the rescued victims in Alor Setar were a 72-year-old Singaporean man and a 33-year-old Chinese woman.
Kumar said the six suspects were being investigated under Section 12 of the Kidnapping Act. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Additional reporting by Calista Wong