Having your own children kidnapped by strangers is every parent’s worst nightmare, and when it does happen, they will do everything in their power to save their kids.
This horrifying incident happened to a Singaporean man, where his 7-year-old son was kidnapped by three unknown men in Johor Bahru (JB) and left him with multiple injuries during the rescue attempt.
Kidnapped in broad daylight
Speaking to Mothership about the harrowing experience, 40-year-old Lin said he went to take a look at some new workshops at No. 5 Jalan Serampang Taman Pelangi with his wife, son and daughter on Dec 12.
Based on CCTV footage from a nearby building, Lin’s children were playing in front of the workshop while he was still inside.
About a minute after Lin’s wife walked away, a gold-coloured car suddenly pulled up to the roadside and a man alighted from it and grabbed Lin’s son before running back into the car.
As the car sped off, Lin’s daughter rushed into the workshop and told him and his wife about the kidnapping.
SG man loses teeth and sustains injuries while saving son
Lin said he then chased after the car, which according to his daughter, didn’t have a number plate.
When he eventually caught up with the car, he tried to block their path with his car. In response, the kidnappers rammed into the back of Lin’s car.
Lin jumped out of the car and attempted to open the kidnappers’ car door but couldn’t as it was locked. In a desperate bid, he smashed the driver’s window with his hand and saw three men inside.
As the kidnappers tried to run by reversing the car, Lin was flung onto the road as he was still holding onto the car door, which resulted in him getting injured.
Not ready to give up just yet, Lin ran back to his car and continued to pursue the kidnappers. He later found his son alone but unhurt inside the car which was abandoned about 3km from a traffic light.
As a result of the chase, Lin sustained injuries to his left forearm, both hands, nose, lips and even lost two teeth as well.
Business partner allegedly behind kidnapping
After rescuing his son, Lin lodged a police report in JB and reviewed the CCTV footage, where it showed a man loitering near the workshop prior to the kidnapping.
The man was later revealed to be Lin’s business partner, whom Lin said he had no previous disagreements with, leading him to believe that money was the motive.
Lin also claimed that his business partner had hired the three men to kidnap his son and provided them the car to carry it out. While the business partner has since been arrested by Malaysian police, the three men are yet to be found.
Lin later lodged a police report at Ang Mo Kio South Neighbourhood Police Centre upon his return to Singapore and told Mothership that he wants to make the matter public so that the kidnappers will “be held accountable”.
He also added that he has reservations about having further business ventures in Malaysia for the time being.
Police: Suspect wanted to extort RM300,000
The suspect, who was a 41-year-old local mechanic, has since been arrested and charged under Section 363 of the Penal Code for kidnapping, reported NST.
Johor Acting Police Chief Deputy Commissioner, M.Kumar said the mastermind behind the failed kidnapping had planned to extort RM300,000 from Lin.
However, the ransom money never fell into their hands as he was nabbed on the same day of the kidnapping.
“The alleged mastermind’s three accomplices, in their 30s, have been identified and a manhunt is ongoing to flush them out of their hiding places.
“It was not a business dispute that triggered the attempted abduction, but greed and disrespect for the law. The victim and the suspect were on good talking terms when the incident occurred,” he said.
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