Lelaki diburu polis Singapura diculik sindiket di Johor

Johor Bahru, Malaysia: A Singaporean male suspected of fleeing to Malaysia through an illegal route and later being duped by a syndicate has been rescued and five suspects have been arrested, according to M Kumar, the head of the Criminal Investigation Department at Bukit Aman. The victim successfully escaped Singapore and entered the country on May of last year, initially seeking protection from the syndicate before becoming a victim and sustaining injuries.

The incident was uncovered after the victim's mother reported to the police in Singapore on Monday, informing them that her 32-year-old son was kidnapped in Johor Bahru for a ransom of SGD80,000 (RM255,000), before further investigation revealed that she, a 33-year-old female Singaporean woman, were also kidnapped together. "Five thousand Singapore dollars (RM17,500) had been paid via online transaction, the rest to be handed over at a shopping mall," Kumar said during a media briefing at IPK Johor today.

Kumar stated that a special task force from Johor and Bukit Aman raided a shopping mall in Nusa Bestari near Iskandar Puteri on Saturday evening and successfully rescued both victims, while arresting a 40-year-old local male during the payment of the ransom. However, Kumar noted that upon rescue, only the male victim was found to have injuries, specifically both legs, believed to be caused by a sharp knife.

According to Kumar, four local males and one local female aged between 32 to 46 years were detained in several raids around the Skudai area. The investigation revealed that the five suspects had criminal and drug records, while a drug screening test showed that four suspects tested positive for methamphetamine. "Apart from the stolen house keys, 10 mobile phones, a shirt and pants, a pair of shoes, SGD12,000 in cash, RM41,400 in cash, a Rolex watch, and a Perodua Axia car, all the suspects were detained for 10 days starting from today under Section 12 of the Abduction Act," Kumar said.

The victim and her female friend, who tested positive for methamphetamine, were detained for 14 days starting from today under the Immigration Act 1959/63, and the male friend, who tested negative for methamphetamine, was detained for four days starting today.