Police arrest nine for alleged kidnapping and pouring hot water on victim

JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested nine men in Johor for allegedly abducting two Indonesian men and pouring hot water to injure one of them.

Johor Police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd said the suspects included a Singaporean and were aged between 20 and 43 years old. They demanded RM450,000 as ransom to release their victims.

He said they were caught following a police report lodged by the victims’ friend – a local man – that one of the victim’s wife had informed him that her husband has been kidnapped.

“The wife told him (the victims’ friend) that she had received a call from one of the suspects that her husband was with them and demanded she paid them RM450,000 ransom money,’’ Comm Mohd Khalil said in a statement released here on July 16.

He said all the suspects were arrested in several raids on July 14 in Batu Pahat, Muar and Johor Baru between 8am and 12.45 pm.

Comm Mohd Khalil said the victim was rescued by police in Batu Pahat. The victim suffered back injuries, believed to be from hot water poured on him, while his friend managed to escape.

He said police seized RM36,000 cash, an automatic gun with 19 live bullets as well as drugs including syabu and pil kuda.

“All suspects were tested positive for drugs and the victim has been sent to hospital for treatment,’’ said Comm Mohd Khalil.

He said the investigation on the kidnapping revealed that the suspects were involved in a syndicate distributing drugs in Malaysia and Indonesia. 

The case is being investigated under Section 363, 385 and 326 of the Penal Code (kidnapping, extortion by fear and causing grievous hurt respectively).

It is also being probed under Section 39A (1) and 39A (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, Section 8 of the Firearms Act (Heavier Penalty) 1971 and Section 8 (A) of the Firearms Act 1960. 

In a separate case, a Bangladeshi was arrested on July 9 in the Senibong industrial area here for lodging false police report that he was robbed of RM4,000.

Comm Mohd Khalil said in his statement, the Bangladeshi claimed his 19-year old wife and three-year old son were abducted by two local men and two Bangladeshis, disguised as policemen during the robbery.

‘The Bangladeshi said the suspects had demanded RM800 for the release of his wife and son,’’ he said.

Comm Mohd Khalil said five men including a Myanmar national and three women, aged between 19 and 56 years, were arrested after investigations and surveillance by police.

‘Initial investigations showed the robbery did not take place and the Bangladeshi’s wife and son were not kidnapped as claimed by him when he lodged a police report,’’ he said.

Comm Mohd Khalil revealed his wife willingly eloped with one of the suspects. He added that another one of the suspects had also disguised as a policeman.

The case is being investigated under Section 182 of the Penal Code for lodging a false police report and Section 170 of the Penal Code for disguising as a policeman.