Youths held for fake kidnapping

JAKARTA (JP): A man, identified as Fani, 20, was arrested Thursday for attempting to extort money from his parents by faking his own kidnapping.

Mobile Detectives unit chief, Maj. Budi Setiawan, said Thursday police had also arrested Fani's friends Yos and Hilman. Arif, the alleged mastermind of the "fake abduction", is still at large.

The fake kidnap drama started after Fani stole two checks worth Rp 4 million from his father, Ahmad, Budi said.

The suspect left his home on Jl. Cut Nyak Dien, Bintaro Jaya, South Jakarta, on Feb. 24, to cash the two checks which he did by forging his father's signature.

When Fani ran out of stolen cash they decided to stage a fake kidnapping.

His father called police shortly after a man claiming to be holding Fani hostage telephoned on Feb. 26 threatening to hurt Fani if Ahmad did not hand over Rp 2 million, Budi said.

"The caller told Fani's father to take the ransom to a location in South Jakarta at dawn on Feb. 27," Budi said.

More than 12 detectives then staked out the area at 3:00 a.m. Thursday to await the kidnappers.

Ahmad had been instructed by the "kidnappers" to leave the money in a public telephone booth on Jl. Bulungan, South Jakarta, Maj. Budi said.

Seconds after Ahmad left the newspaper wrapped bundle of money in the booth, a man came and took the bundle. He then walked away in one direction before turning toward a parked Toyota Hardtop jeep and climbing in. The police chased the getaway jeep for a block before intercepting it.

Fani, Yos and Hilman were inside, said Budi

Ahmad had raised no objections to the police continuing their questioning of the three, Budi said. (04)