A 33-year-old Singaporean man who allegedly entered Malaysia illegally after breaching his parole was subsequently kidnapped by one of the people who had helped him cross the border, according to Malaysian police.
The man and his 28-year-old Singaporean girlfriend were rescued in Johor on Tuesday (11 August).
Six Malaysians, comprising five men and one woman, were arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping.
Kidnappers Allegedly Demanded S$80,000 From His Mother
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director M. Kumar said the Singaporean man had allegedly entered Malaysia without travel documents in May.
The man, who was reportedly wanted by the Singapore authorities after breaching parole for a drug offence, had been hiding in Malaysia for about three months.
Malaysian police said their initial investigations indicated that one of the alleged kidnappers had previously helped him enter the country illegally.
The group allegedly turned on the couple and held them at an undisclosed location for several days.
According to the police account reported by Malaysian media, the alleged kidnappers took S$12,000 and RM41,400 in cash from the man before demanding a further S$80,000 from his mother in Singapore.
The man was allegedly injured on both thighs. A photograph of him was then sent to his mother as part of the ransom demand.
After negotiations, the ransom was reportedly reduced to S$25,000. The family transferred S$5,000, while the remaining amount was supposed to be handed over in cash.
The man’s mother alerted the Singapore Police Force, which contacted its Malaysian counterparts.
Couple Rescued During Planned Ransom Exchange
Malaysian investigators arrested a suspect in his 40s at about 6pm on 11 August during a planned ransom exchange at a supermarket in Nusa Bestari, Iskandar Puteri.
The two Singaporeans were rescued during the operation.
Police later conducted raids in Skudai and arrested another four men and a woman. The six suspects are aged between 30 and 46.
Five of them reportedly have previous records involving criminal or drug offences, while four allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine.
Police recovered Singapore and Malaysian currency, mobile phones, jewellery, a Rolex watch and a Perodua Axia. The seized property was valued at RM264,440, or about S$82,600.
Investigators are still looking into the motive and whether other people were involved.
Malaysian Authorities Are Also Investigating the Singaporean
Although the couple were rescued as alleged kidnapping victims, Malaysian authorities are separately investigating the man’s reported entry into the country without valid documents.
The man was placed under remand for investigation under Malaysia’s immigration laws.
Reports differ on whether he is 32 or 33, and on whether his girlfriend entered Malaysia legally. These details have therefore not been stated definitively here.
The kidnapping suspects remain under investigation. None of the allegations against them has been proven in court.
Malaysian police said this was the second operation within a week in which they had rescued a Singaporean kidnapping victim. In the earlier case, a 72-year-old Singaporean man and a 33-year-old Chinese national were rescued in Kedah.
