Police continue to hunt down alleged kidnappers

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.