PENANG, 30 March 2009: The suspected ‘queen bee’ of a gang who masterminded the kidnap of a 14-year-old schoolboy for what is believed to be a RM200,000 ransom, has been arrested by the police.
Also detained were her 22-year-old son and eight others, including six teenagers, said to be accomplices to the crime.
The police picked them up in a series of raids in the state, following a report by the victim’s family.
Initial police investigations revealed that the 47-year-old woman deployed the teenagers, some of whom were said to have resided near the victim’s house, to recce the victim’s movements before executing the kidnap.
Penang police deputy chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said the teenager was kidnapped while waiting for his schoolbus in Taman Gemilang Jaya, Bukit Mertajam near here, about 6.20am on 25 March.
He told a news conference that as soon as the police were alerted of the kidnap, a special team headed by CID chief SAC II Wan Abdullah Tunku Said was set up to rescue the student.
Tun Hisan said, based on information, the police detained a teenager on the day of the kidnap.
“Following interrogation, we nabbed several other suspected members of the gang in the state.
“Meanwhile, the victim’s family had paid ransom to the gang to secure his release,” he said, adding that the gang then released the victim in Bukit Mertajam, about 3.20am on 28 March.
Tun Hisan said the victim who sustained eye injuries was sent to the hospital for treatment.
He said the police managed to recover about 90% of the ransom money, and seized a mobile phone, two cars and two motorcycles.
Tuh Hisan said both mother and son had previous records for robbery in 2006. — Bernama
