Copycat kidnappers take boy, demand Rp 4 billion in ransom
Copycat kidnappers take boy, demand Rp 4 billion in ransom
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
With the police still unable to recover two children allegedly
kidnapped by brothers Deni and Jefri Saputra, a similar crime has
taken place in Serpong, Tangerang.
However, police suggested that the latest case might not be
related to the serial kidnappings as the perpetrators had used a
different modus operandi.
The two kidnappers -- who allegedly abducted an eight-year-old
boy from his school in Serpong on Wednesday before several
eyewitnesses -- called the victim's parents and demanded a ransom
of Rp 4 billion (US$470,588).
Speaking from a cell-phone, the kidnappers ordered the parents
to hand over the ransom on Friday morning.
"We know your feelings as a mother because we have children
too. If the money is handed over by Friday we will return your
son to his school," one of the kidnappers told the boy's mother.
The boy's identity has not been disclosed for his own safety.
The boy was playing with his friends in the school-yard when
two men approached the children and grabbed the boy. They fled
the scene on a blue Toyota Kijang mini-van with the
license-plate-number B 7095 NN.
The victim's father suspects that the kidnapping is related to
his business.
He said that his company owes a total of Rp 4 billion to
around 150 clients.
"We could not paid the debts at the deadline. Since then we
have often received threats from persons claiming to represent
the 150 clients," he said.
The man said that he still believed the kidnappers would
release his son.
Serpong Police chief Adj. Comr. Kostbar confirmed that the
abduction had not been linked to the recent kidnappings,
allegedly conducted by the Saputra brothers.
"The (latest) kidnapping was conducted by different people
with different motives," he told The Jakarta Post.
The Saputra brothers reportedly abducted at least six children
in Pademangan North Jakarta, in Cipayung East Jakarta, Bogor and
Cianjur in West Java.
The brothers also claimed that they were responsible for
kidnappings in Muara Angke and Sunter in North Jakarta, and in
Tangerang.
However the police have not confirmed the brothers' claim.
It is four months since police started their investigation but
they have yet to solve the kidnapping case.
Criticism of the police has mounted with experts saying that
the police weren't taking the case seriously compared to another
crime involving the murder of a businessman and his bodyguard
earlier this month.