A 72-year-old Singaporean man was kidnapped in Malaysia after being lured there by a “job offer” that turned out to be from a syndicate.
He has been rescued by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a news release on Monday (10 Aug).
Source: Polis Diraja M’sia on X
On 26 July, the man travelled to Malaysia alone, but his family became concerned for his safety, SPF said.
This is especially after receiving information that he may have been kidnapped, and a ransom demanded for his release.
The family thus alerted SPF on 4 Aug.
SPF immediately alerted RMP, sharing relevant information with their counterparts.
The man was finally rescued due to an RMP investigative effort supported by SPF and a subsequent RMP operation.
He is now safe and has received the necessary medical attention.
SPF also worked closely with his next-of-kin, providing them with support and assistance.
Commissioner M. Kumar, Director of RMP’s Criminal Investigation Department, gave a press conference on the operation on Monday (10 Aug), reported The New Straits Times (NST).
He said the Singaporean’s family had lost contact with him after he flew to Penang on 26 July.
Source: Astro Awani on Threads
His sister then received a voice message on 4 Aug, which said that he had been kidnapped. The kidnappers also sent a video that showed the man blindfolded and restrained, having seemingly also suffered injuries.
They demanded S$1 million for his release and told the family to transfer the funds into the man’s bank account, which had been taken over by the kidnappers.
The family forked out about S$15,000 in three payments.
After the RMP was alerted, they conducted investigations and came to believe that the Singaporean was being held at a terrace house in Alor Setar, Kedah.
Police raided the location at about 8.40pm last Friday (7 Aug), during which suspects fired several shots.
Two foreign nationals without identification documents were killed in the ensuing gunfight.
The Singaporean was found tied up and blindfolded in a room of the house, while a 33-year-old female Chinese national was found, also tied up and blindfolded, in another room.
The Singaporean and the Chinese woman did not know each other, with the woman also having been kidnapped.
Two guns, ammunition and a parang were seized from the house.
Source: Astro Awani on Threads
RMP also raided a house about 500m away and arrested five men and a woman.
One of the men is Malaysian, while the rest are Chinese nationals. The four male Chinese nationals tested positive for drugs.
All six will be remanded till 14 Aug to assist in the investigation.
Other raids were conducted elsewhere in Kedah, Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
According to a statement on RMP’s website, the syndicate contacted victims via dating apps or social media such as Telegram and WeChat.
They would be offered either jobs or social escort services.
Once they arrived in Malaysia, they would be kidnapped and made to hand over control of their bank accounts to the kidnappers. Their funds would then be transferred out of their accounts.
The victims would also be made to contact their family members or friends to appeal for money as ransom for their release.
The syndicate is believed to be involved in two other kidnapping cases in Kuala Lumpur, Commissioner M. Kumar said, advising members of the public not to be taken in by job offers from people over social media.
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Julius Lim, Director of Singapore’s Criminal Investigation Department, expressed SPF’s appreciation to the RMP for their swift action and close cooperation.
The operation was a reflection of the “strong and longstanding partnership” between both police forces and their “shared commitment” to keep communities safe, he said.
SPF advised members of the public to be careful when interacting with people online, especially when they do not know them well and have been invited to meet in person or travel overseas.
Also read: 15-year-old S’pore student allegedly kidnapped & found in M’sia, suspect arrested
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Featured image adapted from Polis Diraja M’sia on X.