A 28-year-old Grab driver in Malaysia has been accused of staging his own kidnapping in an elaborate attempt to pressure his parents into paying RM30,000 to settle his alleged loan shark debts.
The alleged kidnapping plot lasted less than a day before police tracked him down to a budget hotel in Kuang, near Sungai Buloh, where investigators believe he had been hiding.
Authorities say the man is now facing criminal charges over the incident.
Family allegedly tricked into paying ‘ransom’
According to MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong, the man’s father had already paid off RM45,000 in loan shark debts for him earlier this year after the son promised he would never borrow from illegal moneylenders again.
However, police investigations later suggested he had allegedly accumulated another RM40,000 in debts by the end of June.
The family only discovered the situation after the man’s mother received a call from his mobile phone on Jul. 25.
The caller, who allegedly claimed to be a loan shark, demanded RM30,000 in exchange for the man’s release.
When the father later managed to contact his son, the 28-year-old allegedly claimed he had been kidnapped, had a knife held to his neck and would be killed if the money was not paid.
The family immediately lodged a police report.
‘Hostage photo’ raised police suspicions
While the family was at the police station, the father continued receiving calls from the supposed kidnappers.
Following police advice, he requested proof that his son was still alive.
A photograph was then sent, allegedly showing the man lying inside the boot of a car.
Investigators quickly became suspicious, believing the image looked more like a selfie than a genuine hostage photograph.
Police subsequently tracked the man’s mobile phone to a budget hotel in Kuang, where they found him safe.
According to investigators, the suspect allegedly admitted that loan sharks had instructed him to stage the fake kidnapping in an attempt to pressure his parents into paying the money.
Father says he will no longer help
The man has since been charged with extortion under Section 385 of Malaysia’s Penal Code and cheating under Section 417.
His 58-year-old father said he was deeply disappointed by the alleged deception and has decided he will no longer settle any of his son’s loan shark debts.
He also issued a message to the loan sharks, saying they should stop approaching him for repayment.
Police investigations into the case are ongoing.