Alleged kidnapper nabbed in Ambon

Police arrested on Saturday a third suspect in the kidnapping of eight-year-old Muhamad Hegel Muthahhari.

The man, identified as Taher Lestaluhu, 45, was taken into custody in Ambon and flown immediately to Jakarta, Elshinta radio reported.

According to police reports, Taher admitted to involvement in the kidnapping, but denied being the mastermind.

Police arrested Taher's wife, Nurul Lestaluhu, on Friday at a house on Jl. Luar Batang in North Jakarta.

Nurul, 35, then led police to Hegel, who was being kept in a room at the Horison Hotel in North Jakarta.

Police found Hegel safe in room 645 of the hotel, where they apprehended another suspect, identified as Doni Wibisino, 36.

The boy, who had been missing nine days, was reunited with his parents at the headquarters of the Tangerang Police, under the eyes of a crowd of journalists.

The boy's mother, Sri Hartati, 36, and father, Meirizal Zulkarnaen, 46, hugged their son and burst into tears. But Hegel remained surprisingly calm and told reporters that he had been treated well by his kidnappers.

Two days after the abduction, the kidnappers telephoned Hegel's mother and told her that he had a high fever, and asked what they should give him.

The kidnappers originally demanded a ransom of Rp 4.5 billion (US$529,411), which they later revised to Rp 400 million.

Police got their first break when Meirizal transferred Rp 10 million to Nurul's bank account. Police traced the account and located Nurul's house in Cisarua, Bogor, but the suspect had already moved to North Jakarta.

Using electronic equipment, police traced signals of mobile phones used by the kidnappers, which led them to Nurul's house on Jl. Luar Batang.

At the house, police found slippers from the Horison Hotel, but no sign of Nurul. Officers staked out the house before the suspect arrived several hours later.

Officers believe that before arriving at the Horison, Hegel was kept at the Golden Hotel in Central Jakarta and the Sheraton Media Hotel in North Jakarta.

Police are still searching for three other suspects in the kidnapping. The three men have been identified as Sofian, Ade and Saleh.

Saleh is suspected of organizing the kidnapping, which is believed to be connected to business dealings between the suspects and Hegel's father.

Meirizal has said that his company has had financial troubles since June, and that he was unable to repay debts of Rp 4.5 billion to 150 clients.

However, he said he had signed an agreement to repay the debts between Aug. 10 and Aug. 30.

Hegel was abducted on July 10 while playing with friends in the playground at Cikal Harapan elementary school.