JEDDAH: Two Saudi men were arrested by Jeddah police on Monday on charges of kidnapping a Bangladeshi national and demanding SR20,000 in ransom for his release.
According to the police, the two men, who were dressed in police uniforms, raided the Bangladeshi man’s home, and demanded that he accompany them to his car for questioning in relation to a crime. From there, the man was taken to an apartment where he was tied and handcuffed. The two Saudis then forced the man to telephone a friend saying he needed SR20,000 for his release and that his captors would harm him if he informed the police and failed to do what they asked.
In spite of the threats, the man’s friend contacted the police who sent a team to track down the kidnappers and their captive.
During a subsequent conversation, police asked the friend to keep the kidnapers on the phone to allow them to pinpoint their exact location using specialist software.
The kidnapers agreed to meet at a specific location and demanded the friend deliver the ransom money himself. However, police who were lying in wait monitoring the pair’s location moved in and freed the Bangladeshi worker. The two Saudi men are currently in custody and are being questioned.
Misfar Al-Juaid, official spokesman for Jeddah police, called on Saudis and expatriates to work together with the police to fight crime.
This is the second kidnap case in Jeddah in the last two months. Last month, a group of Bangladeshi workers kidnapped a fellow Bangladeshi and demanded money for his release.
