Kidnapped money changer found
GEORGE TOWN: A 60-year-old money changer was found safe at an apartment unit in Bayan Lepas Sunday after being held captive for five days since last Wednesday.
According to Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Ghafar Rajab, the money changer from Bukit Jambul was tied up and blindfolded, but was not harmed by his captors when found at about 11.30pm.
He said police made a breakthrough in the case after a man who was held in connection with the kidnapping led investigators to the rented unit after being interrogated.
Following the discovery of the victim, police detained seven men and a 36-yearold woman, believed to be the wife of one of the suspects, at various locations.
He said the suspects are aged between 23 and 38 and one of them has a criminal record for rioting, drug-related offences and causing hurt.
Abdul Ghafar said the victim was kidnapped by several individuals in a van when he came out of his home in Bukit Jambul at about 10.30am last Wednesday.
He said the suspects had demanded a ransom of RM3 million from the victim’s family.
“I believe the case has been solved with the arrest of the suspects,” he told a press conference yesterday.
The suspects have been remanded until Sunday to assist in investigations.