Cops: Datuk among seven held over businessman’s fatal kidnap case

PETALING JAYA: A businessman with the title Datuk was among the seven men detained in connection with the kidnapping and death of a Datuk Seri.

Selangor CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Fadzil Ahmat said the victim knew the Datuk from past meetings.

"It is still in the early stages but we are investigating all angles.

"We are not ruling out the possibility that business rivalry as the motive behind the kidnapping," he said when contacted on Sunday (June 28).

Asked whether the Datuk is the mastermind behind the kidnapping, SAC Fadzil said it is still under investigation.

It is learnt that a man claiming to be a lawyer was also among the seven suspects detained on Friday (June 26) and Saturday (June 27).

SAC Fadzil said two of the suspects were remanded until July 3, two until July 1 while two others until July 2 and another suspect remanded until Tuesday (June 30).

Post-mortem on the victim's body will be resumed on July 2, he added.

SAC Fadzil also called for the cooperation of the public to track down Sheikh Ismail Sheikh Hassan, nicknamed "EL" to assist with investigations.

"His last known address is Apartment Teratai, Bukit Beruntung, Rawang.

"Those with information are urged to call the nearest police station," he added.

On Saturday, the body of the Datuk Seri was discovered in the bushes of Jalan Rawang Bestari Jaya at about 9am after he was kidnapped while jogging in Bandar Sri Damansara on June 10.

Seven men, including a Bangladeshi national, were detained in connection with the kidnapping and death.

The suspects, aged between 30 and 50, were arrested on Friday and Saturday around Selangor.

SAC Fadzil had said the suspects had demanded a ransom from the victim's family after the victim was kidnapped on June 10.

"However, the ransom has not been paid," he said.

"One of the suspects led police to the victim's body in Jalan Rawang, Bestari Jaya at 9am on Saturday.

"The suspects also claimed that the victim died between three and four days after he was kidnapped," SAC Fadzil said.

The victim's body was already decomposing when it was discovered, he said.

"The body has been sent to Sungai Buloh Hospital for post-mortem," he added.