Kidnap cum murder of Lankans in Malaysia:

Cop among two nabbed

A Malaysian Police Volunteer Reserve (PVR) and his accomplice have been arrested in connection with kidnapping three Sri Lankans, one of whom was tortured to death while the ransom was negotiated in Malaysia.

The PVR, attached to the Brickfields police headquarters, and the accomplice, were nabbed during a raid on a house at a workers quarters behind the Cempaka flats in Pinggiran Batu Caves, Malaysia late Saturday night, initial police investigations have revealed the PVR might have masterminded the kidnapping.

Gombak Police Deputy Chief Superintendent Rosli Hassan said the victim was found naked and handcuffed inside a van in front of the house.

He said the deceased's compatriot who sustained broken legs, was also found in the vehicle. The other Sri Lankan was found in the house with the two suspects at the time of the raid, he added.

"We do not rule out the possibility that the suspects were trying to dispose off the body of the man before taking one of the remaining Sri Lankans to a bank to withdraw an unspecified amount of money as ransom to secure their release," Rosli said.

He said blood stains were found splattered on the floor in one of the rooms of the house, adding that the police seized a car, handcuffs and mobile phones belonging to the suspected kidnappers.

Rosli said initial investigations revealed the three Sri Lankans were picked up by the suspects at an airport, three days ago, before being taken to a hotel. "We believe the foreigners were tourists or job seekers .... we are in the midst of determining their indentities," he said. The suspects, aged 30 and 32, have been remanded for seven days to facilitate investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

The body of the murder victim was sent to the Selayang Hospital. His compatriots are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Bernama