KUALA LUMPUR: A journalist from Bangladesh has claimed that he went through a harrowing experience after he was kidnapped and tortured for three days.
The man who is in his thirties and who declined to reveal his identity said that throughout the ordeal he was beaten, caned, kicked in the stomach and had his hands bound (tied) by a group of local men who demanded RM1.9 million from him if he wanted to be released and set free.
He revealed that on November 7, three local men who claimed to be members of an enforcement agency came to his house in Putrajaya on the pretext of aiding in an investigation regarding a case that involved him, the victim.
"They came to my house and asked me to follow them to their office because supposedly there was a report that was made against me, but when I asked them to see the report they told me that I have to see their officer first.
"I was brought to a place somewhere in Shah Alam and I was then told to get into a BMW together with a few other men where I was then brought to an area in a jungle somewhere," he told Harian Metro when met yesterday (November 13).
According to him, after a journey of about an hour they arrived at a house somewhere in Klang, Selangor and the men then showed him a video of people being tortured and killed. He was threatened that the same fate would befall him if their requests are not met.
"I already paid more than RM50,000 which was done via online transactions to them after I was punched, kicked and tied.
"The next day one of the men took me to the clinic to treat my wounds and it was during that time that I managed to escape and get out of the clinic. I desperately tried to ask for help from people outside the clinic but no one was willing to help," he said.
He said that he kept on trying to ask for help from members of the public but he was ignored and he ended up being recaptured and then beaten by the men for trying to escape.
He said that on the third day of being held captive against his will, he tried to explain to the men that he was just a black sheep that was being used by a criminal syndicate involving Bangladesh nationals.
"I did ask one of the aggressors, why did he do such an act, where he was being used by foreigners when he is a Malaysian citizen.
"I believe that the incident took place following a news report that came up with that was published in Bangladesh regarding the illicit activities of a criminal syndicate here in Malaysia that exploits foreign workers," he said.
According to him, the aggressors agreed to release him after listening to his explanation regarding the matter.
The man who has been working as a journalist in Malaysia for the past six years said that he believes all the locals involved including the supposed enforcement personnel were used by the syndicate and were enticed by monetary gains.
"After listening to the explanation, the aggressors involved changed their minds and released me near a bank in Kapar, Klang, after which I proceeded to lodge a police report at the Gombak district police headquarters.
"Before that a police report regarding my abduction was already lodged in Gombak by my relative after attempt to contact me failed," he said.
Meanwhile when contacted, Selangor police chief, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan confirmed that they have received a report regarding the incident.