Man arrested over alleged kidnapping

BANDUNG: Bandung Police have arrested a 57-year-old resident of Balikpapan in East Kalimantan for allegedly abducting a five- year-old boy for 25 days after the child's grandfather failed to pay him a Rp 20 million debt.

The alleged abductor, Edy Suwardi, said he was upset with Warinayah's grandfather, who had yet to return money he loaned him three years ago. "I was very frustrated," Edy told reporters at Bandung Police Headquarters on Tuesday.

He admitted to having taken the child to Bandung a week ago from the boy's home on Jl. Telindung in Balikpapan. But he denied having abducted the child, despite the fact he asked for ransom from the child's mother.

The alleged abductor said he had a house in Bandung.

The child's mother had agreed to pay him Rp 27 million for the child and promised to transfer the money at the Bank Mandiri office on Jl. Asia Afrika in Bandung.

Balikpapan Police contacted Bandung Police soon after receiving a report from Zaenab.

Police said they arrested Edy when he was trying to withdraw the money transferred by Zaenab. (25/sur)