Outside the borders of any successful city, the wolves watch if lambs would come out. Shenzhen, Johor Bahru, Bronx



Feb 27, 2011
JB kidnap: Man pays $9m to free family
Johor Baru - A businessman from Singapore was forced to pay a ransom of $9 million to secure the release of his wife and daughter after they were kidnapped in Johor Baru, The Star newspaper reported yesterday.

The amount was described by the daily as Malaysia's largest ransom payment in recent years. It was paid after the businessman's family members were held for a few days.

The millionaire has businesses in real estate and gambling, the daily reported. It is unclear if he is a Singaporean or a foreign citizen based in Singapore.

Calls to the Johor police by The Sunday Times were not answered yesterday.

The nightmare for the family began when the businessman's wife, daughter and maid were driving in JB towards Singapore recently.

They were forced off the road by another vehicle in Permas Jaya, a township in eastern JB. The kidnappers took over the wheel of their vehicle and drove off with them to an undisclosed location.

Sources in Malaysia's police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur said the kidnappers then sent an MMS (multimedia messaging service) of the three victims being held at gunpoint to the businessman. They demanded a ransom of $50 million.

The businessman was given a warning not to alert the police and to pay up if he wanted his family back, The Star said.

It was learnt that after negotiations, the kidnappers agreed to reduce the ransom to $9 million, to be paid in large denominations of Singapore dollars.

The businessman was apparently instructed to drive to a plantation in Kulaijaya to drop off the money, the daily said. Kulaijaya is located just north of Johor's Senai Airport.

Sources said the victims were released at least two days after the ransom was paid. They were blindfolded and gagged during their ordeal that lasted for several days. They were eventually dropped off, unharmed, around Danga Bay in JB.

The police have launched a manhunt for the kidnappers, who are believed to be professionals, and have contacted Interpol for help as the criminals might have fled Malaysia.

The Star/Asia News Network