Child kidnapping haunts Kendari

Child kidnapping haunts Kendari

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Concern is growing, notably among parents, over the increasing incidence of child abduction for ransom.

Four children have been reported missing over the past few weeks, and one six-year-old child is known to have been abducted.

Police recently raided the hideout of one kidnapper and rescued the son of a businessman. They said the kidnapper had demanded ransom but the police found his hiding place before he was able to collect the money.

Antara reported that in the latest incident this week, three children of the local head of the Antara news agency, Ronny Syamsuddin, almost fell victim to a kidnapper.

While returning home from school the children were pushed into a van by a man whose identity is not known. They managed to escape unharmed, however, the report said. (pan)