LATELY, there have been many kidnapping cases and children who have gone missing for days and even weeks.
Worried parents usually assume the worst, and the kidnapping of six-year-old Albertine Leo in July this year has us all on edge.
We are now quick to assume that when a child goes missing, they have been kidnapped. It usually does not occur to us that the child might have run away from home.
Recently, a post claiming that two foreigners had kidnapped a 12-year-old boy in Setia Alam, Selangor, went viral.
Did this really happen?
Verdict:
FALSE
Shah Alam District Police Deputy Chief Supt Ramsay Anak Embol has refuted news on social media that two men kidnapped a 12-year-old boy in a dark-coloured vehicle.
He said in a press statement that the boy had actually intended to run away from home but made up the kidnapping story to not get in trouble.
"We received a police report regarding this incident on Wednesday (Aug 28) at approximately 11.16pm from the boy's 41-year-old father.
"After a detailed investigation, it was found that the alleged kidnapping incident did not happen.
"Every day the boy goes for Al-Quran studies at the surau near his house from 8pm to 9pm.
"On Wednesday after the Al-Quran class, the boy did not go home but walked alone towards the Setia City Mall area, intending to run away from home," he said.
He said the boy was later rescued by a couple who happened to be passing through that road. "Before being sent home, the boy was taken to a gas station in Setia Alam to buy food first because he was hungry.
"After buying the food, the boy asked to go to the toilet and called his father.
"The boy made up a story of being kidnapped as he was afraid of being scolded by his father,” said OCPD Ramsay.
He said that the CCTV footage at the gas station showed that the boy was not abducted.
"The man (in the video) has been identified and has provided his statement," he said.
OCPD Ramsay said no further action would be taken.
"We would like to emphasise that any individual who provides false information orally or in writing to a public servant who uses his lawful authority to the extent affecting another person may be investigated under Section 182 of the Penal Code.
"If convicted, one can be punished with imprisonment for a period of up to six months or with a fine of up to RM2,000, or both," he said.
