KUCHING: Eight people including a few teenagers were arrested in an apartment on Sunday for illegally confining three others since Saturday afternoon.
A father of one of the three victims lodged a police report after he received a call from his son who was asked to pay RM35,000 before he is released.
The man said his son and two others were illegal confined in an apartment at Jalan Airport here by a group of youngsters who claimed that the three owed them money and ordered to pay a total of RM110,000.
The father said he told the people who confined his son that he has no money. After some negotiations they asked the man to pay RM50,000 before the end of this month.
The man said his son was threatened while the other two were beaten up.
Police the raided the apartment and arrested seven members of the group while one was arrested later in the vicinity.
The motive of the illegal confinement was believed to be over illegal gambling debts. The three victims are believed to have been the losers.
Four of the suspects were released on police bail yesterday while four others were to be remanded.
Police are investigating the case under Section 384 of the Penal Code for extortion. If convicted, the offenders can be jailed for up to 10 years or fine or whipping or both.
