18 detained in connection with kidnapping Palestinian man

KUALA LUMPUR: Eighteen individuals were detained in connection with the kidnapping of a Palestinian man at Jalan Yap Kwan Seng.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim said the 31-year-old victim was kidnapped at about 11pm on Sept 28.

"He was talking with his friend from the same country, when a white Toyota Vellfire stopped alongside them. A man emerged and dragged the victim into the vehicle before they drove away," he told reporters at the KL police headquarters on Wednesday (Oct 5).

His friend then lodged a police report at Dang Wangi police headquarters at 1am on Sept 29, he said.

"We formed a task force of teams from the KL and Dang Wangi police headquarters to track down the victim," he added.

The task forces led by KL deputy CID chief Asst Comm Nasri Mansor managed to rescue the victim in Kuala Langat and arrested 12 Malaysian men and an Indonesian man late afternoon on Sept 29, Comm Azmi said.

"Further investigation led to the arrests of a man and a woman on Jalan Ampang on Oct 3, as well as two men and a woman in Melaka and Beranang, Selangor on Oct 4.

"We are still tracking down the mastermind of the kidnapping, who is still at large," he said.

Seven of the suspects detained had prior criminal records, while four of them tested positive for syabu, he said.

"Those detained aged between 21 and 42 have been remanded for further investigations," he said.

Comm Azmi said police believed that the kidnappers did not even had time to demand a ransom, as they were busted several hours after the incident.

"Nonetheless, we are still investigating the motive behind the kidnapping.

"The victim is a tourist who arrived on Sept 21 to visit his 38-year-old friend, who is studying in Nilai, Negri Sembilan. His friend arrived in Malaysia on Sept 4," he said.

The case is classified under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961.