Police rescue man from RM7 million kidnapping, then arrest him under drug laws as syndicate ties emerge.
SUBANG JAYA: A 44-year-old man rescued from a kidnapping involving a RM7 million ransom demand has been arrested under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 after police uncovered elements of a drug-trafficking syndicate linked to the case.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Commissioner Datuk M. Kumar said the development emerged following further investigations conducted with the assistance of the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department.
“Further investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department, with the assistance of the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department, uncovered elements of drug trafficking or the involvement of a drug-trafficking syndicate.
“Following this, the Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department arrested the victim in this kidnapping case under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985.
“We believe a drug-trafficking syndicate may be involved in this kidnapping case. Investigations are still ongoing,” he told reporters at a press conference at the Subang Jaya district police headquarters today.
Two more local men in their 30s were arrested in Selangor yesterday, bringing the total number of arrests in connection with the case to eight.
One of the latest suspects is a former police officer who was dismissed over a drug-related offence.
Both men have been remanded for 10 days until July 31.
Urine screening conducted during the initial operation also found several of those detained, including the victim, to have tested positive for drugs.
Kumar said preliminary checks of employment and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) records found that the victim had no fixed occupation.
The victim also has previous records involving drug-related and commercial crime offences, while some of the earlier suspects have records involving drug-related and violent crime offences.
“We are still investigating the case from both the drug-trafficking and violent crime angles.
“At this stage, we are looking into the ownership of properties and all related matters, so we need a little more time,” he said.
The case began after the victim’s wife lodged a police report at about 1.30am on July 17, informing authorities that her husband had been abducted and that RM7 million was being demanded for his release.
A special police operation was subsequently launched, leading to the victim’s rescue from a residential unit near i-City in Shah Alam at about 1am on July 18.
Five local men and one local woman aged between 30 and 46 were initially arrested, while police seized drugs, mobile phones and several vehicles.
The case is being investigated under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961 and the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
