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Kidnap & Ransom update October 2, 2018
2-Oct-18

AMERICAS

1. (MEXICO, 01/10/18) Restaurant owner rescued in Nuevo León

A kidnapped restaurant owner was rescued in a rural area of the locality of Santiago, Nuevo Leon state, in a large security operation involving at least 200 security officials. The businessman was kidnapped by heavily armed men on 4 September in the same locality. According to local reports, the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of MXP 20 million (almost USD 1.1 million), which the victim’s family had refused to pay. One suspect, in charge of guarding the victim, was arrested in the operation. FULL ARTICLE (1)

2. (PANAMA, 02/10/18) Kidnapped Palestinians found safe in Chiriquí province

In the evening of 1 October, Ziad Shaker Abbu Awad and Monir Jibarah, were found half-naked over the Pan-American highway, near the Santa Marta in the district of Bugaba. The two Panamanian nationals of Palestinian descent were reported kidnapped early on the same day after they left a mall owned by the parents of one of the victims in the city of David, near the border with Costa Rica. Relatives of the wealthy victim were reportedly demanded a ransom of USD 1 million for the release of the hostages. It is unclear if any payment took place. This is reportedly the second kidnapping of Palestinian citizens in the area. The previous incident was reported in May, targeting the son of a trader in the locality of Paso Canoas. FULL ARTICLE (1)

AFRICA

3. (SOUTH AFRICA, 01/10/18) Pietermaritzburg kidnapping plot foiled

An elaborate plot to kidnap for ransom business people and their dependents in and around Pietermaritzburg‚ KwaZulu-Natal‚ has been foiled by the criminal investigation police, the Hawks. Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the suspect was arrested on 28 September after the agency received information he was allegedly planning to kidnap high-profile business people and their children in the Pietermaritzburg area. Several undercover operations were then conducted‚ where the suspect allegedly gave a detailed description of his first target‚ the safe house where the victim would be held‚ as well as electronic tools to be utilised during and after the alleged kidnapping. FULL ARTICLE

ASIA

4. (MALAYSIA, 28/09/18) Sabah’s sea curfew extended

Sabah’s dusk-to-dawn sea curfew has been extended by another two weeks until 13 October, said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah. He said the decision to extend the curfew was based on continuous threats from cross-border terrorists and criminals, including kidnap-for-ransom groups. These threats were evidenced by the latest incident on 11 September, involving the kidnapping of two Indonesian fishermen from waters off Semporna. The 6pm to 6am curfew covers areas up to three nautical miles off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran, and is aimed at facilitating enforcement and monitoring of boat activities in the area, as well as establishing a “sense of security” among the population through the presence of a security team. The curfew was first implemented on 19 July 2014, following a series of kidnappings that saw the killing of several hostages. FULL ARTICLE

5. (PHILIPPINES, 30/09/18) Kidnapped Chinese rescued; four countrymen arrested

A Chinese national was rescued on 30 September after he was illegally detained for two days by four country men in Pasay City. Police identified the victim as Xiao Jie, who was held and tortured by the suspects at a hotel room. The incident was reported by one of Jie’s friends, also a Chinese national, who works as a casino agent. According to the friend, the suspects demanded PHP 470,000 (USD 8,700) for Jie’s release. It is unclear why Jie was targeted. FULL ARTICLE