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.