23-10-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Johor police have apprehended 13 suspects, including three foreigners, in connection with the high-profile kidnapping of a prominent property developer. Most notably, one of the arrested individuals is reportedly related to the victim.
Johor police chief Commissioner Datuk M. Kumar revealed that the arrests were made during a coordinated operation on Tuesday evening, following a comprehensive investigation by a special task force comprising state police and Bukit Aman officials. The suspects, ranging in age from 23 to 58, include ten males and three females, with two foreign men and one foreign woman among those detained.
The case began to unfold on October 12 when the 59-year-old property developer was ambushed outside his Johor Baru residence at approximately 5am, just before his scheduled departure from Senai Airport for a business trip. According to police reports, three masked assailants orchestrated the attack, with one wielding a stick, another covering the victim’s head, and a third holding him at gunpoint before forcing him into a vehicle.
Details emerging from Chinese media sources indicate that the kidnappers initially demanded a staggering RM30 million ransom through a mobile phone they had deliberately left at the crime scene. After negotiations, the amount was reduced to RM20 million. The victim’s family managed to arrange a partial payment of RM5 million, which was deposited in Taman Perling, while the remaining sum was transferred through a Singapore-based intermediary.
The victim, who was released after 14 hours in captivity, reported to police that he was held by four individuals, including a woman, though he was unable to identify their nationalities. He filed an official police report on October 13, shortly after securing his freedom.
Commissioner Kumar confirmed that investigators believe they have captured the operation’s mastermind, noting that four of the suspects have previous criminal records. Police have seized various pieces of evidence, including mobile phones and an ATM card.
“Ten suspects will remain in custody until October 29, while the remaining three will face remand proceedings at Johor Baru court tomorrow,” Kumar stated during a press conference at the Iskandar Puteri police headquarters’ Deepavali celebration.
