Police rescue kidnapping victim in Shah Alam after 48-hour operation to stop RM7 million ransom demand
KUALA LUMPUR: Police successfully rescued a kidnapping victim within 48 hours of the abduction and arrested six suspects believed to be involved in an alleged RM7 million ransom scheme following a special operation in Shah Alam.
The rescue operation was carried out by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) with assistance from the Bukit Aman Special Branch and the Selangor CID, after investigators traced the victim to a residential unit in the i-City area.
Bukit Aman CID director Datuk M. Kumar said the victim was found during a raid conducted at about 1am on Saturday, following intensive investigations after a police report was lodged by the victim’s wife.
He said the case was reported at around 1.30am the previous day, when the 46-year-old Malaysian woman informed police that her husband had been abducted and that the kidnappers had demanded RM7 million in exchange for his release.
Kumar said the rapid response and coordinated efforts between various police units enabled investigators to locate and rescue the victim before any ransom payment was made.
“The victim was rescued within 48 hours after the report was received, demonstrating the effectiveness and speed of the investigation carried out by the police,” he said in a statement.
During the operation, police arrested six Malaysian suspects comprising five men and one woman, aged between 30 and 46 years old, who are currently being investigated in connection with the alleged kidnapping.
Further searches conducted after the arrests led police to seize various items believed to be linked to the case, including suspected drugs, several mobile phones and multiple vehicles believed to have been used during the crime.
Kumar said the suspects are being investigated under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961, which relates to kidnapping for ransom.
If convicted, offenders under the provision may face imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, as well as whipping.
Police are also investigating all six suspects under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 following the discovery of suspected narcotics during the investigation.
A court has granted a 10-day remand order for all six individuals to allow police to continue investigations under the Kidnapping Act 1961.
Kumar said investigators are still working to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident, including identifying possible additional suspects, establishing the motive behind the abduction and investigating whether the group has links to a larger criminal network.
He assured that police would continue conducting the investigation thoroughly and transparently while taking all necessary action against those involved.
The Bukit Aman CID director also urged members of the public to cooperate with authorities by providing information that could assist ongoing investigations, stressing that public cooperation remains important in combating serious crimes such as kidnapping.
