Nepalese Man Resorts To Kidnapping Girl At Knifepoint After Starving For Days In Kedah
The police said the motive behind the suspect's action was due to extreme stress and hunger.
A 26-year-old Nepalese man was arrested by the police after members of the public stopped him from kidnapping a girl in Gurun, Kedah yesterday, 26 November
According to the New Straits Times, the police said the suspect had gone several days without food when he escaped from his employer.
The police said his hunger drove him to kidnap a three-year-old girl with a knife at her neck in Taman Seri Jeniang on Sunday.
At the time, the victim's father had just parked his motorcycle by the roadside to pick up his roti canai orders and had left his daughter sitting on the motorcycle alone.
The moment the father stepped away, the suspect rushed toward the girl and grabbed her. He then held a knife to her neck as he took a few steps back.
"The suspect spoke in an unknown language, seemingly asking the victim's father for money to eat.
"The panicked father tried to calm and persuade the suspect to release the child for a few minutes," said Kuala Muda police chief Zaidy Che Hassan in a statement.
The photo shows the suspect holding the three-year-old girl hostage in Taman Seri Jeniang in Gurun, Kedah.
Image via New Straits Times
The police said the public acted swiftly to apprehend the suspect when they noticed he was distracted for a brief moment
"Seizing an opportunity when the suspect was distracted, onlookers successfully pulled him from behind.
"With the help of other bystanders and the victim's father, they apprehended the suspect and the victim was rescued," Zaidy said.
The suspect was handed over to the police and the three-year-old victim was sent to Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital for treatment.
Members of the public detained the suspect while waiting for the police to arrive.
Image via Harian Metro
Police investigations revealed that the suspect's employer had filed a report to alert the authorities about his escape on 8 November
Zaidy said the suspect entered the country to work at a factory in Sungai Lalang a month ago, reported Harian Metro.
"Due to work-related stress, the suspect escaped from his employer.
"Initial inquiries suggest that the motive behind the suspect's actions was extreme stress and hunger during the incident, as he had gone several days without food," said the district police chief.
The case is currently being investigated under Section 363 of the Penal Code for kidnapping and Section 6 of the Corrosive, Explosive Substances, and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 for carrying offensive weapons in public places.
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