Four arrested in Malaysia for Indian's abduction

Police in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur arrested four men Friday in connection with the kidnapping last month of an Indian national.

The accused, aged between 23 and 25 years, were arrested from different locations in Malaysia, the country's official Bernama news agency reported.

According to Kuala Lumpur CID chief Zainuddin Ahmad, initial investigation revealed that one of the suspects, who worked as a driver, was the mastermind in the crime.

"They kidnapped the victim for ransom from his employer," Ahmad said in a statement.

On Jan 31, the 39-year-old victim was kidnapped from in front of a religious school in the Sentul area of Kuala Lumpur by three of the suspects travelling in a car.

"The suspects had intercepted the Nissan van in which the victim was travelling, with five other individuals, and introduced themselves as agents from the Indian CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation)," Ahmad said.

"They then pulled the victim out of the van and into the car, while pointing a pistol-like object at him, and sped off," he added.

He said on the same day, the victim's employer received a call from the suspects demanding a 100,000 Malysian ringgits (over $28,000) ransom, which was later reduced to 36,000 Malysian ringgits.

Ahmad said that three of the suspects have been remanded until Feb 9 to facilitate investigation, while the remand order for the fourth suspect would be obtained Saturday.