Ex-nanny and lover detained over Bangsar toddler’s abduction case

A relieved Sarah Joseph after being reunited with her son, yesterday. - The Malaysian Insider pic, November 10, 2013.Police have detained the former nanny of Freddie Joseph, the toddler who was abducted on Friday, and her boyfriend, in connection with the case this morning.

The 39-year-old Filipina maid and her 53-year-old boyfriend, a technician, were picked up from their rented flat unit in Taman Desa here at 11am.

Kuala Lumpur police Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said the woman, who has been in the country since 2004, was Freddie's ex-nanny who was sacked six months ago.

Ku said police believed that the duo were involved in the alleged abduction case.

"We have reasons to believe that the couple involved directly or indirectly in the abduction," he told a press conference at the Pantai police station today.

He said police have also seized several items from the flat unit but declined to reveal details.

However, he said the male suspect did not fit the description of a photofit distributed to the media.

"The person in the photofit is still not caught," said Ku, adding that the couple will be remanded tomorrow morning and will be investigated for kidnapping.

20-month-old Freddie was snatched at 5.45pm from his Bangsar home on Friday, after his mother Sarah failed to stop the suspect.

The suspect, who was with another accomplice, sped off with the baby in a white Toyota Camry bearing false registration number.

Family and friends soon went on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, sharing Freddie's photograph and information of the vehicle.

Ku Chin Wah showing reporters a photofit of the suspect in the kidnapping of baby Freddie. - The Malaysian Insider pic, November 10, 2013.17 hours later, Freddie was found unharmed at Jalan Kuantan in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, at 1.20pm yesterday.

Passers-by saw him standing by the roadside and fed him with biscuits and drinks, before he was reunited with his mother at the Jalan Tun Razak police station.

He was later taken to University Malaya Medical Centre for a checkup.

Two hours after the discovery, police released a photofit of the suspect wanted in the kidnap case.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar thanked netizens for their help in locating Freddie.

The case is reminiscent of Nayati Shamelin Moodliar, who was kidnapped in April 2012 while walking to the Mont Kiara International School.

The incident went viral within hours, gaining the attention of the international media.

Nayati was released and reunited with his family after a RM300,000 ransom was paid. Six men and a woman were later arrested by the police in Perak and Selangor. However, the mastermind remains at large after fleeing to France following the incident.

In May last year, three men were charged at the Jalan Duta Magistrate Court in connection with Nayati's kidnapping.