The Star/Asia News Network
Wednesday, Nov 07, 2012
MALAYSIA - A syndicate is said to be targeting victims from the middle-income group and demanding "affordable" ransom of a few thousand ringgit.
China Press quoted sources as saying that the syndicate would hire foreigners who speak fluent English to be the decoy to draw the victims to a designated place before they were kidnapped.
The latest victim was a 33-year-old man, who wished to be known as Huang, from Kuala Lumpur.
Huang, who worked in a printing company in the city, said two men had approached him about a business proposal and set up a meeting at the Ampang LRT station on Saturday.
He said when he went there, the duo forced him into a car and took him to a flat about 4km away where another five people were waiting.
The kidnappers called Huang's family and demanded a RM$3,000 (S$1,200) ransom, it reported.
The family members agreed to pay RM$2,000 (S$800) after negotiations with the kidnappers and deposited the money into Huang's own account.
The kidnappers used the victim's ATM card to withdraw the ransom.
The kidnappers left after receiving the ransom and Huang managed to escape and a police report was lodged, it reported.
