QuickCheck: Did a kidnapping take place at a Selangor hypermarket?

IN an age where everyone has a smartphone on hand, videos of criminal acts in public places have become far more common - along with all sorts of claims when these videos go viral on social media or through communication apps.

Recently, two video clips went viral along with the claim that it shows a kidnapping taking place at a hypermarket in Bukit Sentosa in Hulu Selangor. Did a kidnapping really take place?

Verdict:

FALSE

In a statement, Hulu Selangor OCPD Supt Ahmad Faizal Tahrim said what actually happened is a case of shoplifting and not kidnapping.

He said that the district police had received a report lodged by the employees of a hypermarket about shoplifting on Sunday (May 14).

“A jobless 33-year-old local man had been detained by the public for suspected shoplifting and not kidnapping as claimed on social media,” said Supt Ahmad Faizal.

He added that two investigation papers have since been opened under Section 380 of the Penal Code for theft in a building and said that the suspect has since been detained to assist in the investigation.

“The video going viral is being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. We advise everyone to stop spreading the video as it can cause confusion and worry among the public,” said Supt Ahmad Faizal.