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THE attempted extortion of cash and 30 kilogrammes of gold is believed to have been the motive behind the recent abduction of a gold shop owner in Palekbang, near Tumpat, according to Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat.
Speaking today, he said the four male suspects had allegedly demanded the gold from the victim before resorting to kidnapping him on 20 May when their demands were not met.
“The group is believed to have abducted the victim to demand money, but the payment was not made as they released the victim the same day,” he said.
He added that the suspects may have freed the victim after realising that police had swiftly launched a large-scale operation.
“Police immediately carried out a massive operation, including roadblocks across the state and near the national border, to track them down. It’s likely the suspects became aware of this and decided to release the victim,” he said.
Datuk Mohd Yusoff also confirmed that the victim recognised the suspects, who had previously requested 30kg of gold from him.
Police are actively working to identify and locate the four men involved in the case. Initial reports indicated that the suspects used a Suzuki Swift during the abduction.
The case is being investigated under Section 365 of the Penal Code for kidnapping with the intention of wrongfully and secretly confining a person — an offence that carries a prison sentence of up to seven years and a fine upon conviction. - May 26. 2025