Suspect who took kidnapped woman to Batam arrested

JOHOR BARU: Police arrested a 39-year old Indonesian man, believed to be the person who took the kidnapped housewife to Batam, Indonesia, on a boat via an illegal route off Pengerang on Feb 21.
Johor CID chief SAC Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the suspect was arrested in Yong Peng South toll plaza in a taxi heading north about 5.30pm on Monday.
On receiving a tip off, he said, a team from Bukit Timah Special Task Force on Organised Crime (Stafoc) and Johor police went to Yong Peng and arrested the suspect.
He added they found on the suspect in the kidnap case a pistol with three bullets and another 23 bullets in a magazine.
Police also detained a local taxi driver for investigation.
It is learnt that the original ransom was Singapore S$5 million (RM16 million) but upon negotiation, the amount was reduced to S$3million.
Sources said the victim had two Indonesian maids, with one stopping work two weeks before the incident.
The victim was held captive in a house in Tamiyang, Batam, Indonesia, a small village an hours journey from Batam town.
She was rescued on March 19, and her husband went to Indonesia and brought her home. The family then celebrated her 44th birthday which fell a day before.