Alleged kidnapper nabbed in Ambon<\/p>\n
Police arrested on Saturday a third suspect in the kidnapping of
\neight-year-old Muhamad Hegel Muthahhari.<\/p>\n
The man, identified as Taher Lestaluhu, 45, was taken into
\ncustody in Ambon and flown immediately to Jakarta, Elshinta radio
\nreported.<\/p>\n
According to police reports, Taher admitted to involvement in
\nthe kidnapping, but denied being the mastermind.<\/p>\n
Police arrested Taher's wife, Nurul Lestaluhu, on Friday at a
\nhouse on Jl. Luar Batang in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Nurul, 35, then led police to Hegel, who was being kept in a
\nroom at the Horison Hotel in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Police found Hegel safe in room 645 of the hotel, where they
\napprehended another suspect, identified as Doni Wibisino, 36.<\/p>\n
The boy, who had been missing nine days, was reunited with his
\nparents at the headquarters of the Tangerang Police, under the
\neyes of a crowd of journalists.<\/p>\n
The boy's mother, Sri Hartati, 36, and father, Meirizal
\nZulkarnaen, 46, hugged their son and burst into tears. But Hegel
\nremained surprisingly calm and told reporters that he had been
\ntreated well by his kidnappers.<\/p>\n
Two days after the abduction, the kidnappers telephoned
\nHegel's mother and told her that he had a high fever, and asked
\nwhat they should give him.<\/p>\n
The kidnappers originally demanded a ransom of Rp 4.5 billion
\n(US$529,411), which they later revised to Rp 400 million.<\/p>\n
Police got their first break when Meirizal transferred Rp 10
\nmillion to Nurul's bank account. Police traced the account and
\nlocated Nurul's house in Cisarua, Bogor, but the suspect had
\nalready moved to North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Using electronic equipment, police traced signals of mobile
\nphones used by the kidnappers, which led them to Nurul's house on
\nJl. Luar Batang.<\/p>\n
At the house, police found slippers from the Horison Hotel,
\nbut no sign of Nurul. Officers staked out the house before the
\nsuspect arrived several hours later.<\/p>\n
Officers believe that before arriving at the Horison, Hegel
\nwas kept at the Golden Hotel in Central Jakarta and the Sheraton
\nMedia Hotel in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Police are still searching for three other suspects in the
\nkidnapping. The three men have been identified as Sofian, Ade and
\nSaleh.<\/p>\n
Saleh is suspected of organizing the kidnapping, which is
\nbelieved to be connected to business dealings between the
\nsuspects and Hegel's father.<\/p>\n
Meirizal has said that his company has had financial troubles
\nsince June, and that he was unable to repay debts of Rp 4.5
\nbillion to 150 clients.<\/p>\n
However, he said he had signed an agreement to repay the debts
\nbetween Aug. 10 and Aug. 30.<\/p>\n
Hegel was abducted on July 10 while playing with friends in
\nthe playground at Cikal Harapan elementary school.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/alleged-kidnapper-nabbed-in-ambon-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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