WE'VE all heard the cautionary tales and urban legends about child abductions, but sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.
Recently, a social media post went viral, claiming that a 13-year-old student narrowly escaped an abduction attempt in Ulu Tiram.
But is this alarming story true, or just a fabrication?
Verdict:
FALSE
Police have dismissed a posting on social media as an attempted abduction case involving a 13-year-old student in the Ulu Tiram area on Sunday, July 28.
Seri Alam OCPD Supt Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said investigation found that the male student was fabricating the story after he was scolded for being late getting on the school van heading home.
He said the student told his mother that an unknown man had approached him in front of a fast-food restaurant in Ulu Tiram on June 6, 2024, at 6.45pm after the school session ended.
"The student claimed that the man was trying to kidnap him and forced him to get on a white van but the boy managed to escape," Supt Mohd Sohaimi said in a statement.
He said the boy’s 49-year-old mother lodged a police report on Sunday, July 28, on the attempted abduction case of her son.
Supt Mohd Sohaimi said the police report was uploaded on a Facebook account belonging to "Warga Sungai Tiram & Ulu Tiram" on Monday, July 29, with the caption "Kes culik budak Bukit Tiram".
"I would like to advise parents to pay attention and closely monitor their children’s whereabouts whether they are at home or outside," he said.
Supt Mohd Sohaimi also reminded social media users or netizens to refrain from making any speculations or sharing news without first confirming its authenticity.
"If you are not sure, don’t share or upload on social media as your act could cause discord or misunderstanding among the public," he said.
