Police release photofit of British toddler’s kidnapper

Ku Chin Wah showing the photofit of the man who snatched 20-month-old Freddie Joseph from his home in Bangsar yesterday. - November 9, 2013.Police today released a preliminary photofit of a man wanted in the kidnapping case of 20 month-old toddler Freddie Joseph.

Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said the suspect is believed to be Asian with fair skin and short hair.

"He is believed to be in his 30s and 168cm tall," said Ku in a press conference held at Pantai police station.

The press conference was called two hours after Freddie was found safe at Jalan Kuantan near a school in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa at 1.20pm.

Freddie was found in the same clothes he wore when he was kidnapped from a double link house that he lives with his mother Sarah in Jalan Terasek 7, 17 hours ago.

Ku said the photofit distributed to the media today was based on the description given by the people who tried to stop the kidnapper yesterday.

Photofit of the suspect wanted for the kidnapping of baby Freddie Joseph in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. - November 9, 2013.On the motive of the kidnapping, Ku said the possibility of the boy being kidnapped for ransom is slim.

"We ruled out that possibility. To kidnap a small child for ransom just does not make sense because they are quite hard to control. We believe there are other reasons. Our main concern was the safety of the victim. Now we can focus on our investigation to find what was the motive," he said.

Ku also said that it would be a bit difficult since the victim is a toddler and not capable in giving them much details nevertheless investigation is on going.

He also said that the publicity given to the case has helped police in finding the toddler.

"The kidnapper might be scared after realising that police are looking for them and decided to return the toddler unharmed," Ku said.

In the 6pm incident, Freddie was snatched from his home by a man.

His mother Sarah tried to stop the kidnapper but failed.

A police source revealed that a neighbour attempted to intervene but backed off when the male suspect suddenly brandished a knife.

The two suspects escaped in a white Toyota Camry along with Freddie.

The car was fitted with a false registration number plate.

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.

The kidnappers agreed to a ransom with Nayati’s expatriate parents, Shamelin Moodliar and Janice Smith, after six days.

Nayati was released and reunited with his family after the 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.

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

Separately, a 28-year-old legal adviser was nearly kidnapped in August near the Jalan Maarof traffic light.

She managed to fend off her attacker who was armed with a knife.

She later shared her ordeal on the Malaysian Crime Awareness Campaign Facebook page on August 13.

The incident occurred about 6pm and the victim claimed that her assailant had not attempted to grab her handphone or handbag.

She managed to escape from the vehicle, but the suspects fled towards the city centre.