SHAH ALAM, Dec 5 — Police investigating the kidnapping of a 35-year-old man got more than they expected after eight suspects led them to RM100,000 worth of smuggled fire crackers, a loan sharking syndicate and an illegal gambling ring.
The suspects, including two women, were nabbed in three raids in several areas in Klang on Thursday and yesterday.
The drama began on Monday when an 84-year-old man returning to his Jalan Turi Palm Grove home in Klang found his 35-year-old grandson surrounded by three men.
Selangor CID chief Datuk Mohd Adnan Abdullah said the unemployed man who lived with his grandfather, apparently owed the men a total of RM32,000.
The men threatened to kidnap the grandson if the debt was not immediately settled.
The octogenarian only had RM1,000 which he handed over but the men who were dissatisfied took the grandson away.
The next day, they contacted the grandfather and told him they would only release the grandson on receiving the full amount owed.
“His grandson told him if the debt was not settled, they would continue to assault him,” he said.
Two days later, the grandson was released at a point along Jalan Pos Baru.
Police then raided a house along Jalan Pekan Baru in Taman Sentosa, where a 23-year-old man was picked up.
A black Toyota Vios allegedly used in the kidnap was also seized.
A day later, police arrested two men aged 24 and 26 at a location along Jalan Hamzah Alang.
Police also seized a computer, two smartphones, and an assortment of jewellery that apparently belonged to the victim.
A third raid was done in Taman Eng Ann hours later with three men and two women, including a couple, aged between 18 and 36 picked up.
Investigations led police to the recovery of RM21,657 in cash and the 26 boxes of fire crackers.
They also seized 45 SIM cards, a passport and two cheque books, along with five computers and 27 smartphones.
Adnan said police believed that based on the seizures, the suspects were believed to be involved in loan sharking and illegal online gambling.
“Several of the log books seized had calculations and records that resembled information used to keep track of debtors,” he said.
Adnan said three suspects had been previously convicted for robbery and snatch theft.
