JEDDAH: The Egyptian authorities have no knowledge of the reported SR2 million ransom asked by kidnappers for the release of a Saudi businessman believed held somewhere in Egypt.
This is according to Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Azzazi, security director of the Al-Ismailiya police in Egypt, according to a report in a local publication Wednesday. This comes in the wake of reports that the kidnappers of Saudi investor Hassan Ali Ahmed Al-Sanad, 70, called the family to demand a ransom of 5 million Egyptian pounds.
Al-Azzazi said that he had received no information from the family about the ransom for Al-Sanad who was kidnapped by an armed gang on the Al-Ismailiya-Cairo Road on April 26, when he was returning home after attending a board meeting of the company he owns in Egypt, the report said.
Meanwhile, Al-Azzazi was quoted as saying that the Egyptian authorities are still searching for Al-Sanad, with teams deployed in the area where he was kidnapped. Preliminary reports have indicated that the victim was being held in a nearby village named Abu Khaleefa.
Reports indicate a number of Arab Bedouins may have had a hand in the crime, were aware of the movements of the Saudi businessman and had prepared a plan to kidnap him.
The Egyptian police have reportedly been checking the phone calls coming in and out of the area where Al-Sanad was abducted. There have also been roadblocks set up to inspect vehicles.
A security official said that Egyptian detectives could be on the verge of tracking down the perpetrators and victim. The search for Al-Sanad involves more than 30 officers from criminal investigation units, led by Interior Ministry intelligence director Gamal Abdulbari and Al-Ismailiya intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Khalil.
Authorities obtained statements from employees at the businessman’s company, tracked his movements and places he frequented, including the place where he was living in Al-Tajamo Al-Khames. The kidnapping is believed to be a criminal act and not politically motivated.
This is according to Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Azzazi, security director of the Al-Ismailiya police in Egypt, according to a report in a local publication Wednesday. This comes in the wake of reports that the kidnappers of Saudi investor Hassan Ali Ahmed Al-Sanad, 70, called the family to demand a ransom of 5 million Egyptian pounds.
Al-Azzazi said that he had received no information from the family about the ransom for Al-Sanad who was kidnapped by an armed gang on the Al-Ismailiya-Cairo Road on April 26, when he was returning home after attending a board meeting of the company he owns in Egypt, the report said.
Meanwhile, Al-Azzazi was quoted as saying that the Egyptian authorities are still searching for Al-Sanad, with teams deployed in the area where he was kidnapped. Preliminary reports have indicated that the victim was being held in a nearby village named Abu Khaleefa.
Reports indicate a number of Arab Bedouins may have had a hand in the crime, were aware of the movements of the Saudi businessman and had prepared a plan to kidnap him.
The Egyptian police have reportedly been checking the phone calls coming in and out of the area where Al-Sanad was abducted. There have also been roadblocks set up to inspect vehicles.
A security official said that Egyptian detectives could be on the verge of tracking down the perpetrators and victim. The search for Al-Sanad involves more than 30 officers from criminal investigation units, led by Interior Ministry intelligence director Gamal Abdulbari and Al-Ismailiya intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Khalil.
Authorities obtained statements from employees at the businessman’s company, tracked his movements and places he frequented, including the place where he was living in Al-Tajamo Al-Khames. The kidnapping is believed to be a criminal act and not politically motivated.
