By Shannon Teoh
KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 — Police confirmed today that a cash ransom was paid to the kidnappers of 12-year-old Nayati Shamelin Moodliar, who went missing in front of Mont Kiara International School a week ago.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohmad Salleh told a press conference that the payment was made in Cheras yesterday afternoon but said he could not reveal how much and how the money changed hands.
"The family decided to pay the ransom. The demand was made immediately after the kidnapping. Police are still investigating the case under the Kidnapping Act, and if found guilty, the suspects will receive the death sentence," he said.
However, he refused to say if suspects have been identified, saying instead no arrests have been made in relation to the kidnapping which occurred in front of the boy's school last Friday.
According to Mohmad, Nayati (picture) contacted his family this morning using a mobile phone left by his abductors before being picked up by his family at the Sungai Buloh rest stop.
The case has captured public imagination with posters of the boy appearing across the Klang Valley in various languages.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also said on Friday via Twitter “I appeal as a father for Nayati not to be harmed in any way,” and added that he has spoken to the Inspector-General Police to expedite the case.
Twitter also saw a trending topic #FindNayatiMoodliar and the news of his release has spread quickly across the social media platform.
The Dutch family has in the past week kept largely silent over the matter, saying a media blackout was to help ensure Nayati’s safety.
It was reported that Nayati, who was still in his school uniform, was abducted by two men in a black car on Friday at 7.35am a short distance from his school.
The men were said to have grabbed the boy while he was walking to school, bundled him into the car and sped off.