(Johor, 21st) – A woman in her 20s was arrested by police for allegedly faking a kidnapping in order to extort a ransom of RM18,000.
In a statement, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department Director Dato' Kuma said that at 3:30 PM yesterday, police launched “Operation Scorpion” at a house in Setia Business Park, Johor Bahru, where they found the woman “safe and sound.”
“The operation stemmed from a report filed by the 43-year-old mother of the woman at the Padawan District Police Headquarters in Sarawak on Friday, claiming that her daughter had been kidnapped by an unknown individual.”
Kuma said that Bukit Aman, together with the Sarawak and Johor police teams, formed a special task force and launched a rescue operation near Johor Bahru, eventually finding the victim at the stated location.
“During the raid, police also arrested a 27-year-old local man at the scene. The man has three prior drug-related and criminal records, and four mobile phones were seized.”
Kuma said that preliminary investigation revealed inconsistencies in the woman's account of the kidnapping, so police arrested her to assist in the investigation.
The case is being investigated under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961, which provides for up to 40 years’ imprisonment and whipping for the crime of kidnapping for ransom.
The two suspects involved have today applied for remand.