Police continue to hunt down alleged kidnappers

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Police are still searching for two men allegedly involved in the abduction of eight-year-old Muhamad Hegel Muthahhari from his elementary school in Serpong, Tangerang.

Police already have arrested five people in connection with the kidnapping. They have been identified as Taher Lestaluhu and his wife Nurul Lestaluhu, Doni Wibisono, M Soleh and Jantra, alias Babe. Authorities are still searching for Ade and Sofyan, whom they wish to question about the kidnapping.

Hegel's father, Meirizal Zulkarnaen, believes the seven suspects were ordered by 23 business associates to kidnap his son.

"I know that one day before the abduction there was a meeting at a restaurant attended by these 23 clients of mine, and the kidnapping was discussed at this meeting," Meirizal told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Meirizal said that Taher, who was arrested on Saturday in Ambon, told him that he was ordered to carry out the kidnapping by these 23 business associates.

He said that before the kidnapping he received several threats warning him that his son was in danger.

Meirizal has said that his company owes Rp 4.5 billion (US$529,411) to 150 clients.

Meanwhile, Serpong Police chief Comr. Kostbar said Taher was thought to have arranged the kidnapping.

"So far we consider Taher to be the mastermind," Kostbar said on Monday, adding that police were still looking for Ade and Sofyan.

Taher, Doni, Babe and Soleh are being held in one cell, while Nurul is being held in a separate cell.

Hegel was abducted on July 30 while playing in front of his school. The kidnappers originally demanded Rp 4.5 billion in ransom.

Police got their big break in the case when the boy's father transferred Rp 10 million to a bank account on Aug. 1. Officers traced the account to Nurul and tracked the suspect down to a house in North Jakarta.

Police staked out the house and detained Nurul when she returned home. The 35-year-old woman then led officers to the boy, who was being kept at the nearby Horison Hotel.

Police found Hegel safe in a room at the hotel and arrested Doni, who was in the room with the boy.

Soleh was apprehended at his house in the Mayang Pratama housing complex in Bantar Gebang, Bekasi, while Babe was arrested in Cisarua village, Sawangan, Bogor, on Saturday.