Published: Monday March 30, 2009 MYT 5:20:00 PM
Woman mastermind of kidnap gang nabbed
PENANG: The suspected 'queen bee' of a gang, who masterminded the kidnap of a 14-year-old schoolboy for what is believed to be a RM200,000 ransom, has been arrested by the police.
Also detained were her 22-year-old son and eight others, including six teenagers, said to be accomplices to the crime.
The police picked them up in a series of raids in the state, following a report by the victim's family.
The victim was released last Saturday, in front of a restaurant in Sungai Rambai, Bukit Mertajam, after the ransom was paid. The police have declined to reveal the ransom amount.
Initial police investigations revealed that the 47-year-old woman deployed the teenagers, some of whom were said to have resided near the victim's house, to monitor the victim's movements before executing the kidnap.
Penang police deputy chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said the teenager was kidnapped while waiting for his schoolbus in Taman Gemilang Jaya, Bukit Mertajam near here, about 6.20am on March 25.
He told a news conference that as soon as the police were alerted to the kidnap, a special team headed by CID chief SAC II Wan Abdullah Tunku Said was set up to rescue the student.
Tun Hisan said, based on information, the police detained a teenager on the day of the kidnap.
"Following interrogation, we nabbed several other suspected members of the gang in the state.
"Meanwhile, the victim's family had paid the ransom to the gang to secure his release," he said, adding that the gang then released the victim in Bukit Mertajam, about 3.20am on Saturday.
Tun Hisan said the boy had suffered eye injuries and was sent to the hospital for treatment.
He said the police managed to recover about 90 percent of the ransom money, and seized a mobile phone, two cars and two motorcycles.
Tuh Hisan said both mother and son had previous records for robbery in 2006. - Bernama
News Poll
- Man posted doctored photos of Nik Aziz
- Heartbreaking wait for mum
- Sodomy II: Karpal claims judge lied (Updated)
- The world just got bigger
- Opposition leaders decry court’s ruling
- Weather warning for Perak, Selangor and Sabah
- Thumbs-up for Najib
- 5-0 for BN’s Zambry
- Saiful files report over death threat
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- 60 lose RM25mil in gold investment scam
- Canberra to set new skills list
- Sodomy II: Karpal claims judge lied (Updated)
- Weather warning for Perak, Selangor and Sabah
- MAS offers CNY bargains
- ‘Flashing candy’ a health hazard: Health Ministry
- Saiful files report over death threat
- Fleet card cloning ring busted with arrest of trio
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- Heavy vehicle ban during CNY rush
RSS
