A 72-year-old Malaysian woman was allegedly abducted from her home in Bentong, Pahang, and made to withdraw her life savings before being left stranded on the streets.
According to Sin Chew Daily, the incident occurred on 3 September when two young men appeared at the home of Zhang Ruifang. They allegedly forced her to travel to a bank in another state, where she was made to withdraw RM40,000 (about S$12,195).
After taking the money, the suspects reportedly abandoned her. The elderly woman spent the entire night wandering the streets without food or shelter before being found the next morning.
CCTV captures suspicious car and men
Zhang’s daughter, Lin Liqing, told local media that the family realised something was wrong when they could not reach her mother. They began searching frantically and posted appeals on social media.
CCTV footage later showed a black Toyota SUV parked outside Zhang’s home between 12:47pm and 12:58pm on the day of the disappearance. Two men were seen arriving empty-handed but left carrying a box of items.
One man, dressed in a blue shirt, was caught on video guiding Zhang into the car. The same vehicle was later captured on a neighbour’s CCTV system as it drove away.
Found a day later, police investigating
The family lodged a police report at Bentong police station when they confirmed Zhang was missing. She was found the next morning, exhausted and hungry, after a night of being left to fend for herself.
Thankfully, Zhang was rescued and reunited with her family. Authorities have confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with the CCTV footage providing clear images of the alleged kidnappers and the car used in the incident.
Cases of elderly victims being targeted for financial scams and abductions have raised growing concerns in Malaysia. Families are urged to remain vigilant, especially for seniors who live alone.