Kidnap Gang Linked To Earlier KL Abductions After Singaporean Man And Chinese Woman Rescued In Kedah

A kidnapping-for-ransom syndicate accused of holding a Singaporean man and a Chinese woman captive in Kedah has been linked to two earlier abduction cases in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian police said.

The latest investigation began after a 72-year-old Singaporean man was rescued from a house in Alor Setar on Aug 7. A 33-year-old Chinese woman, who was being held separately in the same property, was also freed during the police operation.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk M. Kumar said investigators subsequently established that the same group was allegedly involved in an earlier case in Kuala Lumpur involving two Chinese women who were kidnapped together.

Singaporean victim allegedly held for ransom

The Singaporean man, a retired consultant, had travelled directly from Singapore to Penang on July 26. His family later lost contact with him, before his 73-year-old sister made a police report on Aug 6 after receiving information that he had been kidnapped.

According to police, the family subsequently received a voice message claiming that the man had been taken captive. The kidnappers allegedly demanded SGD1 million, equivalent to around RM3.19 million, for his release.

The family was also sent a video showing the man restrained and blindfolded. Police said he appeared to have suffered physical injuries.

The family reportedly made three payments amounting to about SGD15,000. Investigators found that the money had been transferred into the victim’s own bank account, which had allegedly been taken over by the kidnappers.

Police raid Alor Setar hideout

A special task force involving officers from several Criminal Investigation Department units was formed following the report. After gathering intelligence, police carried out a series of raids in Penang and Kedah on Aug 7.

At around 8.40pm, officers entered a two-storey terrace house in Taman Amira, Telaga Bata, Alor Setar, which they believed was being used to hold the Singaporean victim.

Police said the property’s gate and front door were unlocked when officers arrived. After identifying themselves and entering the house, several shots were allegedly fired by suspects inside.

The officers returned fire, killing two foreign men during the exchange. Neither man was carrying identification documents, according to police.

A search of the property then uncovered the Singaporean man, who was found restrained and blindfolded inside one room. Officers also discovered the Chinese woman in another room, where she was similarly restrained.

Chinese woman allegedly kidnapped days earlier

Police said the woman had apparently been kidnapped on Aug 5 after travelling to Penang. Unlike the Singaporean victim, there had been no police report concerning her disappearance before she was rescued.

Her alleged captors reportedly demanded USDT20,000 from her family in China. They also allegedly threatened to send her to Myanmar if the demand was not met.

The woman contacted her family and asked them to borrow the money, but investigators found that no ransom had actually been paid before police reached the hideout.

Police said the two victims were strangers and had no known connection with each other or the suspects.

Both were taken to Hospital Alor Setar for medical examinations on Aug 8 and were discharged on the same day.

Earlier Kuala Lumpur kidnapping uncovered

Further investigations have now connected the syndicate to an earlier incident in Kuala Lumpur on or around July 20.

Two Chinese women were allegedly held captive together. One of the women eventually managed to escape and contacted police, allowing officers to locate the second victim.

However, the suspects had already fled by the time police arrived at the location.

The latest arrests and evidence recovered from the Alor Setar operation are expected to help investigators determine the full extent of the syndicate’s activities and whether additional victims may have been targeted.

Police also carried out another raid at a house roughly 500 metres from the Alor Setar hideout.

Six people were arrested — five men and one woman. One of the suspects was Malaysian, while the remaining five were Chinese nationals. Four of the Chinese male suspects subsequently tested positive for illegal substances.

Weapons recovered during operation

Police said they recovered two pistols, ammunition and a long parang from the property where the victims were held.

The weapons reportedly included a Beretta semi-automatic pistol loaded with five rounds and a revolver containing four rounds.

The arrests came after the dramatic police operation in which two suspected kidnappers were killed following the alleged exchange of gunfire.

Follow-up operations were also conducted across Kedah, Penang and Kuala Lumpur, with suspects aged between their 20s and 40s detained.

The case highlights the risks faced by foreigners travelling in the region and the increasingly organised nature of kidnapping-for-ransom operations. Malaysian authorities are continuing their investigations into the alleged syndicate, including its previous abductions, financial transactions and possible links to other criminal activities.