Cops: Kidnappers demanded 80kg gold, valued at RM40m

 

Kelantan police confirmed yesterday the gold demanded in ransom in a kidnapping case was 80kg, with an estimated value of RM40 million, and not 30kg as reported earlier.

The demand was made by four suspects in a kidnapping and extortion case involving a jewellery shop owner in Palekbang, Tumpat.

Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat said they were informed of this by the 44-year-old victim in a statement.

“The investigation also found that the suspects had been blackmailing the victim, who hails from Tumpat, for a long time.

“The victim claimed that the suspects had been demanding protection money for some time, but was too afraid to report it to the police due to concerns including the safety of his family,” he said when contacted today.

Yusoff added that the victim also claimed to have handed over cash and jewellery worth millions of ringgit to the suspects over some time.

“The investigation revealed that this case primarily involved extortion and escalated into a kidnapping because the victim refused to give (any more) money or gold as demanded by the suspects,” he explained.

On May 20, a viral video clip showed the victim’s vehicle being blocked, and he was forcibly taken away in a grey Suzuki Swift, but was later released.

- Bernama