Three underage boys among four arrested for kidnapping, beating up teenagers

JOHOR BARU: Three underage boys are among four suspects arrested for allegedly kidnapping, beating up and threatening three teenagers here.

Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Balveer Singh said the police received a report on Sunday (June 16) morning about three 14-year-old boys who were kidnapped from a supermarket in Skudai.

“Early investigations found that a group of about 10 men had forced the victims into three cars at about 8pm on Saturday (June 15). The victims recognise one of the suspects.

“They were then taken to an unknown location where they were stripped naked and beaten up.

ACP Balveer added that the suspects then took away the victims’ belongings before leaving them there.

“The three boys, who have bruises on their faces and hands from the beatings, managed to get help from the public.

“They were then sent to the hospital and later went to a police station to lodge a report,” he said.

He said that the police managed to arrest four of the suspects, including three who are underaged, at about 8pm on Sunday (June 16) in Skudai.

“The arrested suspects are between 15 and 20 years old.

“We have also seized a vehicle believed to have been used in the incident and the victims’ belongings,” he said.

ACP Balveer said the case is being investigated under Section 363 of the Penal Code for kidnapping, Section 324 of the same Act for causing hurt with weapons, and Section 506 of the same Act for criminal intimidation.

“Investigation is ongoing, and we are trying to identify the motive behind the incident.

“We are also on the lookout for the rest of the suspects who are still at large,” he said, adding that the four suspects are being remanded for four days starting Monday (June 17).

He also urged anyone with information on the incident to channel it to Inspector Intan Khaizira at 013-6062618.