Police rescue Singaporean kidnapped in Manila, arrest 43 suspects from Malaysia and China
The two Malaysians and 41 Chinese nationals suspected of being involved in the kidnapping of one Singaporean woman. Photos: Reuters
SINGAPORE – A Singaporean woman kidnapped by a loan shark syndicate in the southern outskirts of Manila has been rescued by the Philippine National Police (PNP), whose officers nabbed 43 suspects from Malaysia and China in subsequent raids.
The authorities in Manila identified the Singaporean as Ms Wu Yan, 48.
According to a PNP statement on Thursday (July 20), Ms Wu was playing bacarat at the Solaire Resorts and Casino in Pasay city on Monday (July 17) when two Malaysian nationals – Ng Yu Meng and Goh Kok Keong – befriended her and invited her to gamble at another casino in the same city.
Ms Wu took up their offer and boarded a taxi with the Malaysian duo around 9.45pm.
But instead of heading to the casino, they took her to the Bayview International Condominium in neighbouring Paranaque City where they demanded US$180,000 (S$246,000) in exchange for releasing her.
According to local media reports, the condominium’s security guards raised the alarm on Tuesday after catching sight of Ms Wu’s feet dangling from the balcony.
She was later rescued by the police who raided the condominium and arrested the two Malaysians and 41 Chinese nationals suspected of being involved in the kidnapping.
The Philippine authorities said the 43 suspects are part of a cell of a loan shark syndicate operating in the entertainment city. Another suspect, identified as Chen DeQin, remains at large.
