Two Chinese nationals have been arrested in Malaysia after staging a fake kidnapping to extract a ransom of RM2.9 million from their own parents.
Malay Mail reported that Zhang Runbao, 23, a student at NUS, and Ye Yingxi, 18, allegedly tried to deceive Ye’s mother into paying a five million yuan (RM2.9 million) ransom on May 2 at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
The case, which spanned multiple states, triggered a major response from law enforcement in both Malaysia and Singapore.
Well-orchestrated scam involved fake ransom videos
According to Sin Chew Daily, the suspects filmed themselves with their hands bound and faces distressed, claiming to be held hostage.
They then sent the footage to their parents and demanded a hefty ransom.
To make the hoax more believable, they even used voice-changing software during fake phone calls to the victims’ families.
Parents flew to S’pore & M’sia
Believing their son was truly in danger, the parents flew from Dubai to Singapore, then to Malaysia, where they lodged a police report and contacted the Chinese Embassy.
Authorities initially treated the matter as a genuine kidnapping and launched a large-scale investigation involving multiple agencies.
No signs of forced abduction
Suspicions were raised early on when investigators found no evidence of how the youth was lured into Malaysia or abducted.
In fact, records showed he had been playing online games in Singapore the day before he travelled to Johor Bahru, where the fake kidnapping was staged.
Arrests in Penang and Kedah
The 22-year-old accomplice was first arrested at Penang International Airport on May 4.
The youth was later located in Baling, Kedah with a leg injury.
He claimed to have been released and said he managed to get help at a local police station by contacting his grandfather in China.
However, inconsistencies in his account during police questioning led authorities to doubt his version of events.
Charged with cheating under Malaysian law
China Press reported that both suspects are now in police custody and being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating — an offence that carries a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
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